[Elecraft] OT: a quick question about solder

[d.cutter at ntlworld.com]

Matt

I would say that's confined to a few and they are probably mostly US firms.  I've read the stuff about tin whiskers and it fills me with dread for aerospace applications where very long life is required.  On the ground so to speak, military stuff goes out of use a bit quicker and (I'm guessing) does not pose so much of a problem.  I know military suppliers in EU that are fully RoHS compliant and (I think) would not get work if they were not!!  Aerospace is different.  Those that desire "special" production for lead soldering will charge accordingly but the rest of the world will not.  


Elecraft and other non-aerospace suppliers are in a corner and RoHS is their only option.  How much tin whisker growth can be expected on their circuits (and from other manufacturers in amateur radio) will have to wait for the test of time.  I suppose we could do our own conformal coating if we are particularly worried.

73

David
G3UNA

---- Matt Palmer <kd8dao at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Military will always use lead solder, it is the easiest way for wider
> pitch parts to self mitigate for tin whiskers.
> 
> Matt
> W8ESE
> 心正即刀正
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 6:54 AM, <d.cutter at ntlworld.com> wrote:
> > Hi Paul
> >
> > I think it will soon be impossible to buy any electronic apparatus built using machine soldering that is NOT RoHS compliant.  That will cover all manufacturing: amateur, professional, domestic, military.  The manufacture of parts has swung that way and soldering baths have been re-filled with lead-free solder.  Anything not lead-free must be made on a separate production line and it will soon be uneconomic to run two lines in the same factory because the parts will not be available.
> >
> > I think you will have a tough time finding a manufacturer who can tell you they do not use RoHS components.  Of course if they have stock left over, you have a chance, but that can only be on older designs.  All new designs will use RoHS-compliant parts.
> >
> > Pretty much all of EU is now RoHS and we buy most of our parts from the East.  I don't know the situation in the US but I can't see them being able to make a non-RoHS compliant product when the big eastern suppliers turn to RoHS compliance.
> >
> > I am intrigued to know what it is about the RoHS process that you don't like.
> >
> > David
> > G3UNA
> >
> >