Electronics > Manufacturing & Assembly

Keeping the lint out of final mechanical assembly?

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rich:
I'm wondering if there are any top-tips for getting rid of lint, fibres and hairs eradicated from mechanical assembly.

The issue I am fighting is that I my ABS enclosures come back from CNC machining already a bit swarfy and beginning to attract collecting dust etc. I then fit the PCB, LCD and self-adhesive graphic overlay with clear window.

Occasionally after fixing the overlay, then there are a few specs of dust or a white fibre waving at me through the window. (Only once have a had an eyelash in there). This all fails my own QC and I scrap the overlay and start again.

I've started using adhesive tape to pick up stray dust/fibres but this feels like a hack. Not sure what direction to try next -  Compressed air? Some other sticky pickup tool?
Thanks.

AF6LJ:
Try this;
Wash the enclosures in soapy water and dry with a paper towel, do not rinse the enclosure the soapy film left will keep static from attracting dust and lint.

rich:
Thanks for the tip. I will try a soapy experiment on a single unit and see if it attracts less dust etc. I would guess that I'd need to IPA that film away or else the overlay wouldn't stick quite so well.

I reviewed the full process in greater detail this morning. One of the wipes I use doesn't shed lint but it does produce fine white dust. A friend suggested a domestic air purifier could reduce the overall level of dust in my home lab - I think these are just a big fans with a hepa filter and don't seem massively expensive so might be worth a shot I need to do more research on them.

AF6LJ:

--- Quote from: rich on April 09, 2016, 03:17:30 pm ---Thanks for the tip. I will try a soapy experiment on a single unit and see if it attracts less dust etc. I would guess that I'd need to IPA that film away or else the overlay wouldn't stick quite so well.

I reviewed the full process in greater detail this morning. One of the wipes I use doesn't shed lint but it does produce fine white dust. A friend suggested a domestic air purifier could reduce the overall level of dust in my home lab - I think these are just a big fans with a hepa filter and don't seem massively expensive so might be worth a shot I need to do more research on them.

--- End quote ---
The air purifier removes the dust by placing a negative charge on the air that enters the unit the dust sticks ti the internal filter media and the anode plate internal to the unit.
The thin soap film may not effect your decal.
Give it a try.

Farley:
Keeping dust and specs out of assemblies like that can be a battle. In the past I've had laminar flow hoods installed at the assembly workstations and had the operators wear lint free gloves. It also helps to have compressed air and a nozzle/blower at the station. In my experience, it's inevitable that you will still have a few escapes.

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