AB120 LUXEON Z ES Application Brief 20150330 ©2015 Lumileds Holding B.V. All rights reserved. 15
5.2 Solder Paste
Lumileds recommends using a lead-free solder paste for LUXEON emitters. Lumileds successfully tested a grade 3
solder paste with satisfactory results. For example Alpha Metal SAC305-CVP390-M20 type 3. However, since application
environments vary widely, Lumileds recommends that customers perform their own solder paste evaluation in order to
ensure it is suitable for the targeted application.
5.3 Solder Paste Screen Printing
1. The stencil is manually aligned to the PCB prior to printing. No adjustments are made during printing.
2. The stencil is manually aligned to the PCB prior to printing. During printing, the machine keeps track of the PCB
fiducial mark(s) and makes any necessary adjustments to maintain proper alignment with the PCB.
3. A technician performs a crude alignment of the stencil to the PCB. During printing, the machine keeps track of
the PCB fiducial mark(s) and the stencil fiducial mark(s) and maintains proper alignment between the fiducials
throughout the process.
Method 1 has the worst accuracy and repeatability of the three methods discussed. Method 2 offers the same accuracy as
method 1 but ensures better repeatability. Method 3 has the best accuracy and best repeatability of the 3 methods discussed.
Depending on what screen printing method is used, the size of the anode and cathode solder mask openings on the
PCB may have to be enlarged to compensate for any misalignments between the stencil and the PCB panel. The size of
the anode and cathode openings in the stencil should be enlarged accordingly. Given the large size of the thermal pad
compared to the anode and cathode pads of the LUXEON emitter, the size of the thermal pad typically does not require
any modifications in the solder mask or stencil. Note, though, that any changes in the solder mask opening for anode
and cathode pads should not change the spacing between the three pads on the PCB, i.e. the spacing between the two
electrical pads should be 0.35mm while the spacing between the electrical pads and the thermal pad should be 0.25mm.
In order to ensure proper alignment between the stencil and the PCB as well as reliable transfer of solder paste onto the
PCB, all PCB panels should be rigidly supported during solder paste printing. Instead of placing the PCB panel on multiple
support pins (see Figure 16), it is best to place the PCB panel on a single solid plate. This is particularly important for PCB
panels which contain v-scores or perforated holes for de-panel purposes.
5.4 Solder Reflow Profile
The LUXEON emitter is compatible with standard surface-mount and lead-free reflow technologies. This greatly simplifies
the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for adhesives and epoxies. The reflow step itself is the most critical
step in the reflow soldering process and occurs when the boards move through the oven and the solder paste melts,
forming the solder joints. To form good solder joints, the time and temperature profile throughout the reflow process
must be well maintained.
A temperature profile consists of three primary phases:
1. Preheat: the board enters the reflow oven and is warmed up to a temperature lower than the melting point
of the solder alloy.
2. Reflow: the board is heated to a peak temperature above the melting point of the solder, but below the temperature
that would damage the components or the board.
3. Cool down: the board is cooled down, allowing the solder to freeze, before the board exits the oven.
For detailed information on the recommended reflow profile, refer to the IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020C reflow profile in the
appropriate datasheet for each LUXEON product.
5.5 Placement Accuracy
In order to achieve the highest placement accuracy Lumileds recommends using an automated pick and place tool with
a vision system that can recognize the bottom metallization or package outline of the LUXEON emitter (see Section 6 for
more details).