FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Why is my order on hold?
- How long will it take for my order to be done? What if it's a Rush order?
- I'm a new customer. How do I get started ordering Beam On's products?
- How do I place an order for a mini-stencil, reballing fixture, or tooling template?
- What is the difference between Band
etched and chem.-etched stencils?
Between Band Etch and Laser?
- How can I find out the status of my order?
- What is electropolish?
Do I need it?
Why is my order on hold?
There could be many reasons why your order may go on hold. Click here to learn about common reasons orders go on hold and how you can work to prevent them.
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How long will it take for my order to be done? What if it's a Rush order?
Beam On Oregon has a standard turn of 24 hours for standard stencils if there are no problems or questions with the order. If the job is placed on hold, the 24 hour turn will start once the questions are resolved and the order released. For tooling work, the standard turn is three days minimum.
Rush orders are usually completed in less time than the standard turn and may incur a premium charge, although the exact time depends on the volume of orders being processed by Beam On at that time.
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I'm a new customer. How do I get started ordering Beam On's products?
If you are new to Beam On Oregon please contact us with your contact information and product needs. You can also fill out this simple form and one of our Sales staff will contact you shortly.
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How do I place an order for a mini-stencil, reballing fixture, or tooling template?
The general process is similar to above, however you will need to contact our sales associates for the details of the order. However, you can download an order form here. For a mini-stencil we will need gerber data or a sample BGA if this is a new order, or just a reference number if this corresponds to a stencil we already made. Reballing fixtures require a sample BGA, and tooling template requires a sample fab.
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What is the difference between Band Etched and chem-etched stencils?
While both processes use checmical etching to cut the stencil, Band Etch is a superior process that allows control over aperture sizes and smoother walls. More details on the advantages of Band Etch over conventional chem. etched stencils can be found here.
Between Band Etch and Laser?
Laser The advantages over etched stencils include tighter opening size tolerances and excellent repeatability, openings with near perfect symmetry, unquestionable dimensional accuracy, extremely sharp corners, and for stencils with low pad counts, extremely fast cycle time.
Band Etch advantages over laser cut stencils include extremely smooth wall surfaces, no warpage or metal stress due to laser energy, tight manufacturing windows (1 cut or 100,000 cuts is transparent), wall taper is to some extent adjustable, and perfect fiducials.
Learn more about laser and Band Etch stencils.
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How can I find out the status of my order?
Please give our Customer Service a call and be armed with the specific information about your order in order to find out the status. Often it is good to know the assembly number of your order and when you ordered it and when it is due.
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What is electropolish?
Electropolishing is a subtractive process in which microscopic peaks are electrochemically removed. Additionally the process changes the surface by removing iron leaving a chromium-rich oxide layer. It is typically a finishing technique used for corrosion resistance.
Do I need it?
Not for Beam On laser stencils. At Beam On we constantly adjust and optimize our laser to cut walls as smooth as possible. Many other stencil manufacturers are more concerned with time and adjust their machines for speed. By doing this they are forced to electropolish the foils to eliminate the ragged walls their lasers leave behind.
Remember, electropolishing is a subtractive process Not only are the walls of the openings smoothed but they are also minutely enlarged. Also, since both surfaces of the foil are exposed, the foil thickness is reduced 2 to 4 tenths of a mil! While the foil is shiny and astetically pleasing, customers have reported that the smooth surface interferes with the roll of solderpaste when printing.
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