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January 2016 • SMT Magazine 77 Wave Solder Pallet Types There are a number of companies that spe- cialize in designing and manufacturing custom wave pallets. Following are some highlights on pallet features and design options. The wave solder machine vendor you choose should be able to guide you in the selection and use of a proper pallet device. Through-hole technology remains the typi- cal method for soldering connectors and many high power components such as transformers and regulators. This, in turn, has led to a style of mixed technology circuit boards with some or all of the following characteristics: • Dense populations of components • Boards with components on both sides • Close pitch SMT or thermally sensitive components which would be damaged by a wave • Through-hole connectors mounted close to previously installed SMDs To wave solder these connections, a con- formal selective wave solder carrier (CSWSC) is called for. This is a tooling pallet which has been designed to: • Enclose all or nearly all solder-side SMT components • Expose some or all pin through-hole (PTH) components • Selectively allow solder to flow around the pins by creating the largest possible through apertures • Mask thermally sensitive areas such as BGA lands • Mask through holes and, if desired, ground plane areas and projections such as screws or rivets sMT quiCk Tips SELECTInG a WaVE SOLDErInG SySTEM, ParT 3 figure 3: custom board pallet—masks off areas that you do not want soldered.