Application: Apply conformal coatings to printed circuit boards precisely and reproducibly
What this application is about
The right solution starts with the entire process rather than an individual gun. Spray pattern, nozzle design, material pressure, delivery, component movement and cleaning must be considered together to keep the application stable and repeatable.
Purpose and benefits of the coating
The application mainly concerns printed circuit boards, electronic assemblies, sensors and control modules. The required effect occurs only when coating material, substrate, layer thickness and subsequent drying or curing fit together. The spraying process must therefore be adapted to the concrete material system and the real production conditions.
Alongside surface quality, material consumption, cleaning effort, system availability and reliable repeatability also matter. A sound technical solution therefore combines controlled atomisation with a stable material supply that is easy to regulate.
What matters with the application
Even small fluctuations in material pressure, viscosity, distance or movement control can change the coating visibly or functionally. Typical requirements include:
- even coating around components and soldering points
- Clearance of plugs, contacts, test points and cooling surfaces
- Avoiding bubbles, pinholes and shadow zones
- clean surfaces without critical flux or process residues
- Controlled layer thickness and hardening
- Material compatibility with acrylic, polyurethane, silicone or UV systems
Protection effect and free zones on the assembly
Conform coatings protect printed circuit boards from moisture, condensation, dust and corrosive influences. The thin protective layer must be sufficiently wet circuit board, soldering points and components, while plugs, test points, relays, switches or heat transfer surfaces remain free.
During spray application, shadow areas under components, edge cover and bubble formation shall be considered. Viscosity, solvents, hardening and permissible coating thickness are specified by the coating manufacturer.
- defined keep-out zones and masking
- even edge and component cover
- Avoidance of bubbles, threads and runs
- Controlled layer thickness
- coordinated ventilation and curing
Spraying technology and material supply from Krautzberger
Krautzberger treats application and material supply as a connected system. Depending on the task, manual and automatic spray guns, suitable air and material nozzles, material pressure tanks, diaphragm pumps, pump and lifting stations, and material pressure regulators can be combined.
In automated processes, spray guns can be integrated into mounts, lifting devices, axes or robots. Material changeover valves and flushing equipment support applications with several colours or media. The specific selection depends on viscosity, solids content, application quantity, cycle time and component geometry.
For fine surface finishes, various XLINE nozzle combinations and spray patterns are available. With highly viscous, abrasive or sedimenting media, sufficiently large flow cross-sections, suitable material combinations, agitators and pressure-stable delivery become more important.
The focus is on finely atomizing hand or automatic spray guns, small material pressure vessels, precise material pressure controllers as well as compact spray heads and automated axes for selective areas. The technically and economically suitable combination is selected for the specific medium, components and required production output.
Typical applications
The application is used in different industries and component groups. Typical examples are:
- Automotive control units
- Industrial electronics and sensors
- Household and building technology
- Energy and power electronics
- Aeronautics, railway and marine electronics
- Small series, repair and prototypes
Process integration and automation
Hand spray is suitable for patterns and small quantities. For series production, automated or selective spray webs allow higher repeatability; Masking and component cleaning remain important process steps.
In addition, component feed, extraction or ventilation, cleaning, media change and accessibility for maintenance work must be taken into account during the system integration. This keeps the process stable not only in the pattern run, but also in everyday production.
Benefits for your production
- uniform protection of complex assemblies
- precise controllable layer thickness
- less overspray and masking effort with selective application
- Reproducible serial quality
- Flexible processing of different protective coatings
- Integration into existing electronics production
Process design at the Krautzberger technical centre
Liquid media and coating materials with similar names can differ considerably in viscosity, solids content, solvent base, wetting and drying. A reliable choice of spray gun, nozzle and material supply should therefore be made using the original material and a representative component.
With real assemblies accessibility, shadow zones, masking, lacquer viscosity, spray pattern and curing are evaluated.
On this basis, the spray pattern, material quantity, pressure, distance, movement and cleaning sequence can be defined. The result is an application solution suited to the medium, the geometry and the intended production process.
Related products
All products
Find the right application solution together
Looking for a spray gun, an automatic spray gun or a complete material supply for this process? Krautzberger helps you select and design suitable spray technology, nozzle configurations, delivery and regulation.
Contact Krautzberger to discuss your medium, component, production volume and desired result. Together, we assess how the process can be implemented safely and economically.
Industries for this application
Conformal coatings must protect printed circuit boards and electronic assemblies at edges and around components as well. In electronics, automotive engineering, aerospace and defence, moisture, chemicals and electrical stress can impose different priorities.
