The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Electronic Board Scrubbing Machine

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Having the right equipment helps. For industrial applications, that means using a floor scrubber to make quick work of large areas and heavy-duty jobs, saving your team time and money.

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Explore our buying guide to learn how floor scrubbers work, and to find the option that’s right for your business.

Floor scrubbers 101

Trade your mop and bucket (or worse, rags and elbow grease) for an efficient commercial floor scrubber that uses less water and cleaning solutions than traditional floor-cleaning methods to get the job done.

Floor scrubbers are equipped with a tank that dispenses a mixture of water and detergent. As the operator propels the floor scrubber, water and solutions are applied to the floor via a scrubbing pad or brush. Pads are used for even, coated surfaces and brushes for uneven, rough surfaces. A squeegee and built-in vacuum then kick in, returning the water to the tank for a quick-drying floor, helping to prevent slips.

The equipment is built to make cleaning easier and more ergonomic, reducing labor costs and fatigue. Pad-assist floor scrubbers use the friction of the scrub deck against the floor to propel the machine forward, and they are activated by tilting the machine forward. (This video shows you how they work.) Traction-drive floor scrubbers use an electric motor to propel the machine. (Check out this video to see them in action.)

Should you walk or ride?

As you peruse floor scrubber options, you might be wondering what type is right for your facility and team—walking, riding, or hand-held. To make the right choice, it’s helpful to understand the characteristics and advantages of each one:

• Walk-behind: With its easy maneuverability, a walk-behind floor scrubber is ideally suited for tight or difficult-to-reach spaces as you navigate it into corners and nooks. You can also use it to clean under desks, tables, workbenches, and other furniture or equipment. Its small footprint makes it perfect for facilities with limited storage availability.

• Ride-on: Consistent speed and less-intensive operating requirements enable a ride-on floor scrubber to cover more square footage in less time than walk-behind models, making it the right choice for larger areas. While it might cost more upfront, a ride-on floor scrubber can help you save money over time through reduced operator fatigue and lower labor costs.

• Hand-held: This type of floor scrubber is ideal for short-term use to access hard-to-reach spaces, such as corners, ceilings, and skirting boards. It makes a handy supplement to ride-on or walk-behind models that are used for wider floor expanses.

How much capacity is needed?

Floor scrubbers come in a variety of sizes and capacities. Which one you choose will largely depend on the expanse of the floors you’ll be covering. But note: Being able to handle the job in one go is crucial. Consider these factors:

• Battery-powered vs. corded: Consider the amount of time the floor scrubber will be running as well as the extent of the job. A battery-operated machine might be a better fit for a larger space as the reach of a corded machine is limited based on access to a power outlet. (Double-check manufacturer recommendations before using an extension cord with a floor scrubber.)

• Size of solution and recovery tank: The bigger the job, the bigger the tank should be to reduce or eliminate the number of mid-job refills.

• Width of cleaning path: Check the dimensions of the floor scrubber to make sure you can easily maneuver it throughout your facility. You don’t want to end up with a riding floor scrubber that won’t fit down your aisles.

• Motor power: Compare options to see which power capacity is recommended for the floor expanse you’ll be covering.

Make the most of your floor scrubber

>While a floor scrubber is designed to do the hard work, here are a few best practices that can help you maximize its performance.

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First, clear floors of dust, dirt, and other impediments by sweeping or dry mopping the area. This ensures debris doesn’t get caught under the pad or squeegee and cause streaked or scratched floors or damage the machine itself.

Typically, you’ll want to start the cleaning process in the corner farthest from the door, so you are moving toward it as you work and won’t be walking on clean floors.

After completing the task, remove the recovery tank (where the water goes after it’s used) and rinse it completely to avoid chemical buildup. Then store the floor scrubber safely out of the way until its next use.

Don’t forget the cleaning pads

Using the right cleaning pad for your machine and being aware of its life expectancy is also critical when using a floor scrubber. A pad’s life expectancy is based on how many square feet of space it has cleaned. Calculate the amount of floor space that will be cleaned and how often you’ll be running the floor scrubber to estimate when you need a replacement floor scrubber pad. Consider the demands of your application when choosing a pad, with a range of floor scrubber pad options available for scrubbing, buffing, polishing, and more.

If your machine is battery-operated, ensure you have a sufficient charge to complete the job and establish a policy for when your team should recharge it. (For example, nightly or weekly, so you can be sure it’s ready to go when you need it.)

Train your team on how to use the floor scrubber safely, to protect themselves as well as the equipment and your floors. Instructing them on proper floor scrubber maintenance is also important to protect the machine’s lifespan and keep your floors cleaner for years to come.

Find the floor scrubber that fits your needs

Take the next step toward cleaner floors by exploring the wide range of floor scrubbers and accessories Global Industrial offers. If you’re unsure or have questions about which floor scrubber might be right for you, connect with our product experts who can help you identify the size and features needed to get the job done right.

The information contained in this article is for informational, educational, and promotional purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. It is the reader’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations. If there is any question or doubt in regard to any element contained in this article, please consult a licensed professional.  Under no circumstances will Global Industrial® be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on this article.

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Process Industry
Saturn Electronics Corp.

1 COPPER LAMINATE
(base material) Standard sheet sizes that are sheared to size in-house. Standard panel sizes with saw-cut edges.

This significantly reduces contamination in subsequent processes (e.g., imaging, testing, etc.) 2 DRILLING Drilling machine that requires tools to be changed manually.

Maximum panel sizes are typically 18” x 24”.

No control in Z-axis, +/- 0.002” hole position accuracy Saturn's lowest-end PCB drilling machines are Excellon Mark VI CNC drillers. All of these machines are equipped with automatic measurement systems that measure drill bit length, diameter, spindle runout, and broken drill bit detection.

Essentially, these capabilities remove the human element from these drilling issues, thereby minimizing the chance of operator error.

Saturn also has three Mania Micronics 86 drilling machines. These machines incorporate the industry’s latest linear motion technology and 180k RPM high speed spindles. The use of linear motion increases hole position accuracy from an industry standard of +/- 0.002” down to +/- 0.”, including in the Z-axis, which makes these ideal for controlled depth blind via drilling.

3 IMAGE ROOM Enclosed room. Saturn has a Class 10,000 Clean Room.

The environment in this room minimizes foreign material from creating common shorts in the imaging process. Also, strict temperature and humidity controls prevent distortion in the customer artwork. 4 IMAGING / EXPOSURE Customer artwork is aligned manually by eyeballing the registration of the film to the drilled panel.

Light source is a single point light source, making it not possible to use on fine line images run on production panel sizes. Standard: Saturn uses MultiLine equipped drawers for imaging. MultiLine tooling removes the human factor involved in lining up the bottom film to the top film. This results in significantly reduced off-registration issues.

Advanced (inner layers): Saturn also employs the use of an Olec AX-28 automatic exposure unit that uses two cameras to align the top and bottom artwork. This machine can hold registration as tight as +/- . mils front to back for inner layers.

Industry-Leading (inner and outer layers): Saturn has purchased and installed two Olec AT-30 automatic alignment exposure units. These units use four cameras to align artwork top to bottom, and then use panel motion systems to automatically adjust the panel position to a best fit to the artwork. Furthermore, these units have hybrid-collimated light units that ensure exposure light attacks the panel at 90 degree angles to the artwork, which is critical for fine line resolutions. 5 PLATING THROUGH HOLES (PTH) Manual dip tanks. Saturn employs two automatic electroplating lines and, as such, PTH is a two-step process. Saturn has built a custom automatic plating line that has been designed and constructed primarily in-house. The intent was to minimize plating variation, which is the main goal of production plating. This was accomplished by including the following:

1. It houses racks that only allow panels to be plated one-high.

2. Anode-to-anode distance is 28 inches (maximum allowable distance for plating).

3. Water-submerged positive cathode contact.

4. Chemical-submerged anode bars for positive contact.

5. Eductor system. This utilizes a highvolume chemical flow parallel to the panels instead of air to accomplish chemical agitation.

6. Mechanical agitation to allow chemical to flow through holes.

7. Vibration to remove air from microvias and blind microvias. 8. Dual-sided rectification to equalize copper plating from one side of the rack to the other.

9.State-of-the-art rectifiers (two per rack) with 0.5% maximum ripple effect.

10. Panels are now being plated at 15 amps per square feet (ASF), versus an industry standard of 45 ASF. This will result in more uniform plating, albeit lowered production.

11. High ductile plating process that meets C specs for 1,000 hour cycle tests.

12. Chemistry has been revised so that high-aspect ratio plating can be performed. Both lines are calibrated to plate 10:1 aspect ratio as a standard. 6 STRIP-ETCH-STRIP (SES) Conveyorized line that is capable of producing 7 mil line / spacing. In , Saturn installed a new Hollmuller SES line. This line incorporates the latest in spray technology that minimizes chemical puddling. This is line-capable to accurately and uniformly etch down to 2 mil lines and spaces. 7 CLEANING PRIOR TO
LPI Manual dip tanks or small conveyorized chemical cleaning line. Instead of using a chemical cleaning process that may increase ionic contamination and compromise the surface finish, Saturn utilizes an Aluminum Oxide Jet Scrubber. This process uses an aluminum oxide slurry that is sprayed on the panels to remove copper oxidation. 8 LIQUID PHOTO-IMAGEABLE (LPI) SOLDERMASK Manual tables or AutoRoll machines. Saturn uses 2 DP- model LPI applicators to be used in lieu of AutoRoll soldermask applicators. For standard colors, Saturn also employs the use of two Argus spray coating lines. This will result in less soldermask within holes and eliminates dimple marks on the board surface. Furthermore, they will result in a much more uniform soldermask thickness across the product surface area. 9 LPI IMAGE Customer artwork is aligned manually by eyeballing the registration of the film to the drilled panel. Standard: Saturn uses MultiLine equipped drawers for imaging. MultiLine tooling removes the human factor involved in lining up the bottom film to the top film. This results in significantly reduced off-registration issues.

Industry-Leading (inner and outer layers): Saturn has purchased and installed two Olec AT-30 automatic alignment exposure units. These units use four cameras to align artwork top to bottom, and then use panel motion systems to automatically adjust the panel position to a best fit to the artwork. Furthermore, these units have hybrid-collimated light units that ensure exposure light attacks the panel at 90 degree angles to the artwork, which is critical for fine line resolutions. 10 LPI DEVELOPING Standard conveyor that is separated from baking and cleaning lines. Saturn has conveyorizing the developing, final baking, and cleaning processes into a single production line. This should improve quality through reduced handling and utilizing higher-end machinery.

Our developing line is constructed of a single-chamber, stainless steel developing line. 11 FINAL BAKING Manual convection box ovens. Saturn has installed a Bassi Tunnel oven to perform final baking. Since heat is uniformly applied to the boards and the machine controls the cycle time, quality is improved dramatically. 12 CLEANING Manual dip tanks. Saturn has a Chemcut XL547 conveyorized cleaning line. XL547 model is the latest Chemcut equipment line. 13 HOT AIR SOLDER LEVELING
(HASL) Vertical SnPb HASL.

Pb-Free HASL typically outsourced. Saturn has installed three Lantronics TT-30 vertical hot air levelers. These machines were designed with the intent of using this finish on finer pitch devices than in the past. They hold the panels at 45° angles so that SMT pads are not at 90° or 180° angles to the air knives.

Saturn uses two of these units for SnPb HASL, and the third for Nihon Superior’s SN100CL lead-free solder finish process. 14 HASL POST-CLEANER LPI Cleaning line is also used as a post-cleaner. Saturn has custom fabricated a high-pressure, high-temperature post-cleaner for use after the HASL process.

This is a stainless steel post-cleaner unit that runs at 150°F, sprays regular and D.I. water at 1 to 1.5 gallons per minute at 50 psi using 7.5 HP pumps (1/2 gallon per minute, 20-30 p.s.i., 1.5 HP is the best available on the market). Furthermore, the cleaner uses 8-1” wide toothbrush-type agitating brushes versus an industry best of 4-0.5” brushes. This custom process has been proven to remove ionic contamination from the surface of PCBs to well below industry standards. 15 INSPECTION Visual inspection by personnel using a light table. Saturn augments its visual inspection process by utilizing visual inspection equipment. This equipment (hole checker) checks for holes that have been plugged by the HASL and LPI processes, incorrectly plated or non-plated holes, and drilled with incorrect drill bit sizes. 16 ELECTRICAL TESTING Either clam shell tester or single flying probe. Saturn offers a variety of testing alternatives. First, Saturn has 5 Mania double-sided, double-density grid testing machines. The fixture cost for these testers is half the cost or less than those used in more traditional clam shell testers since we build everything in-house.

Also, Saturn utilizes six flying probe testers for smaller and prototype orders. This allows the customer to forego the cost of a hard testing fixture and, instead, pay a modest testing fee. 17 CLEANING AFTER ROUTING Washer using city water. Saturn has installed a washer in its shipping department that uses de-ionized (D.I.) water to clean the boards. D.I. water results in a cleaner board, but more importantly it further removes ionic contamination that may have occurred after HASL. 18 DUPLICATE PROCESSES Due to cost constraints, many PCB shops will not have duplicate processes. All of Saturn’s processes incorporate duplicate equipment so that in the case of an equipment failure, Saturn’s production capabilities will not be compromised.

Furthermore, Saturn has controlling interests in three other domestic PCB fabrication facilities so that in the event of a catastrophic event, the supply chain will not be compromised. 19 ADVANCED CAPABILITIES Minimal / Outsourced Saturn has grown from a technology standpoint exponentially since . In-house capabilities include laser drilling, laser routing, PTFE plasma preparation, Plasma treatment and etchback. Additionally, Saturn features special project groups to assist customers with critical and technologically demanding products. 20 MIN HOLE SIZE

.015” .002” 21 MIN LINE / SPACING .007” / .007” .003” / .003”