Vortex Plus
The paperless underscreen cleaner
Vortex Plus is a revolutionary new underscreen cleaning technology that simplifies and speeds up the onboard stencil cleaning process, while providing an effective cleaning action.
The Vortex Plus system is a paperless, on-board stencil cleaner that replaces the paper roll and its mechanical delivery systems with a dimensional foam cleaner attached to a snap-change cassette, plus a second, staged filter that traps solder paste particles drawn off by vacuum. The foam produces no lint, making it compatible with most clean room applications.
Three factors contribute to the system's most revolutionary feature, increased cleaning speed.
The ability to perform the conventional wet, vacuum and dry underscreen cleaning sequence in approximately one-third of the time required by conventional cleaning processes.
The three-dimensional structure of the cleaning material coupled with the Vortex Plus oscillating cleaning action, which permits a high cleaning speed.
The snap-change cassette supporting the foam cleaner is a disposable unit that can be replaced in a few seconds, after approximately 200 cleaning cycles. This extends the intervals between changes and minimises changeover time.
The combined benefits of shorter cleaning cycles, longer intervals between changes and shorter changeover times - support higher throughput for the pre-placement process.
The Vortex Plus system offers an effective solution for applications where improvement is required in any of the following areas:
Increased throughput speed, by reducing the time required for underscreen cleaning
Improved cleaning performance, when dense or fine pitch apeture patterns are used
Less contamination from lint and other particles
Reduced waste volume compared to the disposal of standard paper rolls
Vortex Plus Under Screen Cleaner
The Vortex Plus under screen cleaner is a programmable cleaner with additional vacuum option, if desired. The unit wipes the Vortex foam cleaning cassette, consisting of both a wet and a dry cell, across the underside of the screen to minimize paste build up and operator intervention. The cleaner cassettes are available in four widths, 320mm, 420mm, 520mm and 620mm (for large board or Vista applications only). The frequency of cleaning cycle is programmable in the product file.
Cleaning Options | Wet/Dry/Intrusive |
| Cleaning Cycle | Single pass |
| Refill Type | Foam Cassette |
| Refill Capacity | Programmable |
| Cleaner Size | 320/420/520/620mm |
The Vortex cleaning program comprises a single return stroke. On the high speed rearward stroke the cleaner does not contact the screen and no cleaning takes place. On the forward stroke the cleaner is raised to contact the screen and the oscillating action is enabled thereby permitting the cleaning to take place. The cleaning stroke itself consists of both a wet and dry wipe, with or without vacuum. Used solvent fumes and excess solder are drawn from the underside of the screen, through the dry cell of the Vortex cleaning cassette and filter cassette, by the vacuum created in the vacuum channel beneath the filter cassette.