Comment on Raspberry Pi cuts product returns by 50% by changing up its pin soldering

• yggstyle@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago

  So if I’m reading that right - higher failure rate on the line but those that passed I’d imagine have a higher rate of success?

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  • rtxn@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago

    The main problem was that it interrupted the line. We’d have to stop and inspect each product, then reposition or replace the connectors, before the reflow oven. It also ran the risk of damaging the connector, the PCB, or even the inserter head if the insertion force was too high. We had a higher rework and scrap rate compared to similar SMD-only products, but using pin in paste meant that wave soldering could be skipped altogether, and I guess someone above my pay grade determined that it was better in terms of finances.

    This is just my own experience. I don’t know Rpi manufacturing practices.

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    • yggstyle@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago

      That’s some interesting insight - thanks 👍

      I’ve done some sm work but as repairs and upgrades … it definitely was /easier/ to remove and replace: that was for sure. I’m unclear on if it ultimately had a higher real world failure rate though.

      Personally I’m hopeful that their reasoning for this is increasing the quality of what does hit shelves even if there is a higher on line failure rate. They can’t always be the cheapest (and recently haven’t been) but if they can double down on “It just works” for a slightly higher price… I’m here for it and I imagine other makers likely will be as well.

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• ozymandias117@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago

  So, would your suspicion be that it’s causing them more failed boards in production?

  I guess if it’s reducing returns, that might be something they’re accepting as a tradeoff?

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• Goretantath@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago

  How long ago was this? Could the process have become more acurate in the time you’ve been away from it?

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