EU Consortium demonstrates power NDT tool for total detection coverage

An EU collaboration between EU companies and research organisations, known as Microscan, has been working to produce a powerful tool in the total quality control of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assemblies.

The consortium has just completed a first demonstration of proof in principle at TWI Technology Centre (Port Talbot, Wales).

The development comprises four modules each based on a different non destructive detection technique:- Automated Optical Imaging (AOI), Digital Radiography (DR), Thermography and Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM). Although some of the techniques are already used in industry, with the exception of AOI, they are typically used offline and consequently can only be used to conduct batch tests with limited defect detection capability. Additionally, AOI is also currently limited to line-of-sight inspection and cannot be applied to hidden joints and devices/features. Other defects, such as plastic encapsulated delamination and heat plane delamination, can only be detected reliably with SAM and active thermography.

"This is the first time that the combined benefits of the four techniques have been utilised in an in-line environment to enable a 100% defect detection coverage" said Dr Ian Nicholson, principal scientist at TWI Ltd. 

The work is as a result of a two year European Framework 6 project shared between 10 organisations with TWI as the lead partner. The partners plan to exploit the knowledge they have gained through the collaboration and commercialise the prototype modules within two years.

More information about the project and project partners can be found at http://www.microscan.eu.com