Can leaded BGA chips be reflow soldered with lead-free process?

I know that using leaded process for lead-free BGA chips is not acceptable, because the solder balls of the BGA will not melt and the joint will be unreliable. But now BGA chip is only available in lead-free balls. is it ok to solder leaded BGA chips with a lead-free (thus, higher temperature) process?

November 1, 2023

Option 1: Talk to your assembler and see if you could use two different temperature processes.

Do the Lead-free profile first (that goes to a higher temperature)
Then, after those parts are done, solder the leaded parts on with a leaded temperature profile.

This satisfies the requirements of both. (you don’t need to worry about stenciling as BGA’s have solder balls)

Option 2

Install lead-free BGA’s with an IR rework station (which also supports temperature profiles). It is more difficult but possible.

#PCB Assembly

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

Oliver Smith

What Others Are Asking

What does “run a panel” mean in the context of PCB/PCBA fabrication?

A design engineer told me our PCB prototypes would be completed soon and then he would have his assembler “run a panel”. Does anyone know what that means?

Oliver Smith October 26, 2023

How to handle feedline of bluetooth PCB connected to a 2.4GHz chip antenna?

I’m making a 4 layer PCB prototype that uses a bluetooth mcu connected to a 2.4GHz chip antenna. I’m thinking about what to do with the feedline, whether it should be buried on one of the middle layers, or left on the top layer. To get a 50 ohm line, should I choose top layer with 13-mil width or buried miccrostrip with 7-mild width?

Oliver Smith November 30, 2023

Can we do wave solder the through hole parts without masking it?

We would like to do wave soldering for the through hole components. All through hole components are top side of PCB. Only test points, which require mask during process, are on the bottom side. So there is a extra labour cost at adding and removing the mask. Can we do wave solder the through hole parts without masking it?

Oliver Smith November 21, 2023

Can leaded BGA chips be reflow soldered with lead-free process?

Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

What Others Are Asking

What does “run a panel” mean in the context of PCB/PCBA fabrication?

How to handle feedline of bluetooth PCB connected to a 2.4GHz chip antenna?

Can we do wave solder the through hole parts without masking it?

Read Detailed Advice From Blog Articles