What is the difference between reflow soldering and wave soldering? Which one is good?

What is the difference between reflow soldering and wave soldering? Which one is good?

In today's society, new technologies are being developed every day, and these advancements can be clearly seen in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards (PCBs). The design phase of a PCB includes several steps, among which soldering plays a crucial role in determining the quality of the designed circuit board. Welding can ensure that the circuit remains fixed on the circuit board. If it weren't for the development of welding technology, printed circuit boards would not be as powerful as they are now. At present, there are many welding techniques applied in various industries. The two most popular welding techniques in the field of PCB design and manufacturing are wave soldering and reflow soldering, and there are many differences between these two welding techniques. Want to know what these differences are?

1.What is the difference between reflow soldering and wave soldering?

Wave soldering and reflow soldering are two completely different welding techniques. The main differences are shown in the following figure:

(1)For wave soldering:

In wave soldering, components are welded with the help of wave peaks, which are formed by melted solder.

Compared to reflow soldering, wave soldering technology is more complex.

The welding process requires careful monitoring of issues such as the temperature of the circuit board and the duration of use in the solder. If the peak soldering environment is not properly maintained, it may lead to defects in the circuit board design.

The wave soldering method takes a shorter time to weld PCBs and is also cheaper compared to other technologies.

You need to consider different factors, including pad shape, size, layout, heat dissipation, and effective welding position.

This method is mainly used in situations where large-scale production is required, and it helps to manufacture a large number of printed circuit boards in a shorter time.

If you want to weld through hole components, then wave soldering is the most suitable technology to choose.

(2)For reflow soldering:

Reflow soldering is the process of soldering components with the help of reflow, which is formed by hot air.

Reflow soldering is a relatively simple technique.

It does not require a specific controlled environment, thus providing great flexibility in designing or manufacturing printed circuit boards.

Compared to wave soldering, this welding technique is slower and more expensive.

In reflow soldering, there is no need to consider factors such as circuit board orientation, pad shape, size, and shading.

Unlike wave soldering, reflow soldering is suitable for small batch production.

Reflow soldering is an ideal choice for soldering surface mounted devices on printed circuit boards.

2.Which one is better for wave soldering and reflow soldering?

Each type of soldering has its own advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the appropriate soldering method depends on the design of the printed circuit board and the requirements specified by the company.