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SEPTEMBER 2024 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 39 level of accuracy is particularly handy when reworking expensive integrated circuits (ICs), in which rework failures are not an option. Supplemental soldering Another area quickly gaining traction is sup- plemental soldering. is is important partic- ularly in cases where varying volumes of sol- der are needed on particular parts of the board. Traditionally, this was handled by "step sten- cils," a method in which specific stencil aper- tures are designed with layers of varying thick- nesses to deliver the desired volume of paste. Designing and manufacturing these stencils can be complex and costly and have no guar- antee of performing as intended on the first iteration. Solder paste jetting provides a tar- geted approach, allowing the user to easily add or reduce solder volume via SW adjustments. Supplemental soldering is also used in areas in which pads for a critical device on the board require a much higher level of precision. Typically, when utilizing solder paste jet- ting for supplemental purposes, the system is only focused on a handful of areas on the board. is means solder paste jetting is used in conjunction with automated stencil print- ing, rather than as a full-scale replacement. Flexible and rigid-flex circuits Substrates used in flex and rigid-flex circuits are oen delicate and are more prone to dam- age utilizing traditional soldering methods. Solder paste jetting offers a non-contact appli- cation, which reduces the risk of physical dam- age. In addition, flex material can oen be pre- sented in irregular shapes and surfaces; solder paste jetting allows for precise deposition in these scenarios. Identifying Growing Markets As solder paste jetting technology continues to grow in popularity, it's important to identify the areas experiencing growth. In this section, we identify the key sectors within electronics manufacturing that have adopted this technol- ogy and their reasons for doing so. Prototype development and low-volume production Prototyping and small-batch production, which are perhaps the strongest market for sol- der paste jetting technology, both rely heavily