Production automation system specialist, Contax , has recently installed four phoenix x-ray systems at different organisations in Scotland.

Production automation system specialist, Contax , has recently installed four phoenix x-ray systems at different organisations in Scotland. The users include: Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems, Kelvinside Electronics and two further electronic manufacturing companies. Selex Sensor and Airborne Systems, has purchased the phoenix x-ray nanome|x system to support the Captor Radar Tranche-2 Programmme for the Eurofighter Typhoon military aircraft.

Two major units of the system are manufactured by Selex in Edinburgh.

The printed electronic circuit assemblies within these units have a high population of BGAs, and the nanome x is used to provide diagnostics in the event of any test failures.

Commented Steve Touhey, production engineering Manger for Radar and Advanced Products at Selex Sensor and Airborne Systems, 'Without the diagnostic capabilities of the nanome x, the inspection and assessment of individual BGA joints, especially on micro-BGAs would be nigh impossible'.

'We chose this system because of its ease of use, clarity of image and downloadable software, which was specifically designed for the inspection of voids within BGA joints'.

He continued, 'In a perfect world, the nanome x would not be needed.

However, in the event of a test failure occurring its capabilities should ensure that the time taken to identify the route cause is kept to an absolute minimum,' he said.

Another user, Glasgow-based contract electronics manufacturer, Kelvinside Electronics Limited (KEL), specialises in supplying the military, medical, oil and gas industries, all of which have very high quality standards.

KEL has purchased the phoenix pcb|analyser to examine BGAs on circuit boards.

Explained David Baird, Managing Director at Kelvinside Electronics, 'We decided to purchase the phoenix pcb|analyser due to being awarded two large military contracts which involves a lot of BGA analysis.

This has provided us with a number of advantages.

Not only do we have greater control over reporting, but we have seriously reduced our turn-around time due to a much improved throughput of PCB assemblies'.

He concluded, 'Contax had recommended the phoenix system, and we were very happy with the demonstrations and reference sites.

The system is now in place and working extremely well for us.

It is on our network, and information taken from each board is stored and available to our clients.

In fact, the system has already proved so invaluable, that we have not yet had time to examine its full potential,' he finished.