What Is a Reflow Oven?

A SMT reflow oven is an essential machine of the thermal processing of solder for electronics manufacturing. These machines vary in size from small boxy ovens to inline- or conveyor-belt-style options. When an operator places an electronic product inside the device, it precisely applies surface mount components to the printed circuit board (PCB).

The PCB reflow oven has become a staple of the electronics manufacturing industry due to its advantageous size, precision, and speed. Manufacturers can select from various sizes and types, ranging from miniature models to commercial ovens. There are also homemade options, though they have limited functionality and longevity.

These types of machines have become popular because they streamline time and resources consumption. Reflow ovens for PCB assembly represent a significant upgrade over manual soldering of electronic components to PCBs in all measurable values. Plus, they offer high thermal transfer efficiency, more consistent soldering, and even heat distribution.

Every oven has four main zones of the thermal profile: preheat, soak, reflow, and cooling. The preheat and soak zones involve heating the component and then maintaining the temperature, respectively. The reflow zone ensures reflow for every soldered lead while the cooling portion lowers the temperature at a controlled rate for an even connection between components and PCBs.