BETA Layout V3 PRO, RK-10579 User guide
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
www.beta-eSTORE.com
Beta LAYOUT Ltd. • Bay 98 • Shannon Free Zone, Co. Clare • Ireland
Telefon + 353 (0) 61 70 11 70 • Fax + 353 (0) 61 70 11 65
Contents
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
1 General information ......................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Warranty und liability ........................................................................................................................... 4
2 Safety ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Intended use ................................................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Safety instructions ................................................................................................................................. 5
3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
4 Technical data .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
5 Operating and display elements............................................................................................................7
6 Self-test ............................................................................................................................................................................9
7 Operating modes/soldering .....................................................................................................................9
7.1 Appropriate oven ...................................................................................................................................... 9
7.2 Preparing the oven ............................................................................................................................... 10
7.3 Learning the oven characteristics ....................................................................................... 11
7.4 Reflow soldering ......................................................................................................................................... 12
8 Setting parameters via the display ........................................................................................... 14
8.1 Switching the controller to parameterisation mode ....................................... 14
8.2 Menu layout .................................................................................................................................................. 15
8.3 Main menu ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
8.4 “Settings” menu ........................................................................................................................................ 15
8.4.1 Profiles .................................................................................................................................................................. 16
8.4.2 Using the parameters .......................................................................................................................... 17
8.4.3 Preheat .............................................................................................................................................................. 17
8.4.4 Soak ........................................................................................................................................................................ 18
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8.4.5 Reflow ................................................................................................................................................................... 19
8.4.6 Dwell ................................................................................................................................................................... 20
8.5 “Base values” menu ......................................................................................................................... 2 1
8.5.1 Automatic phase extension ...................................................................................................... 21
8.5.2 Temperature calibration ............................................................................................................... 22
8.5.3 Setting the measurement unit “Temperature” ................................................... 23
8.5.4 Setting background brightness ........................................................................................... 23
8.5.5 Restoring default values .............................................................................................................. 24
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
9 Setting parameters via the computer ................................................................. 24
9.1 Connecting to the computer ................................................................................................... 24
9.2 Installing the USB driver ...............................................................................................................25
9.3 Interface parameters ....................................................................................................................... 26
9.4 Terminal program ................................................................................................................................. 26
9.5 Communication test .......................................................................................................................... 27
9.6 General commands ............................................................................................................................ 28
9.7 Commands for parameter setting and calibration ......................................... 30
9.8 Manual operation .................................................................................................................................. 32
10 Software update instructions ......................................................................................................... 34
11 Error messages ......................................................................................................... ....................................... 37
12 Maintenance and disposal ................................................................................................................... 37
13 Guarantee..................................................................................................................................................................... 38
14 Connecting the reflow controller to the reflow oven and PC .................. 39
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1 General information
Please read this guide carefully prior to using the reflow controller as it contains important information on the functions, operation and maintenance of the product.
Note:
This documentation is based on the product knowledge available at the time of manufacture. The accuracy and completeness of the work in question cannot be guaranteed. Technical changes for product advancement are excluded. This documentation
and the information it contains are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced
either in full or in part or distributed to third parties without the written consent of the
publisher.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
1.1 Warranty and liability
Our “General sales and delivery conditions” are always applicable.
Beta LAYOUT excludes any warranty or liability claims for personal and material damages caused by one or more of the following:
• inappropriate use,
• incorrect assembly, setup or operation,
• failing to observe information, requests or warnings in the operating instructions,
• unauthorised structural modifications to the equipment,
• improperly carried out maintenance or repairs.
Any damage caused by failing to follow the operating instructions will render the guarantee/warranty null and void. We accept no liability for consequential damages arising from
the above.
2 Safety
2.1 Intended use
This product can only be used to control a reflow soldering oven.
Using it for any purpose other than the above will lead to product damage, and inappropriate use is also associated with hazards such as short circuits, fire, electric shock etc.
The product must not be changed or modified in any way.
This product complies with all legal, national and European requirements.
All company names and product designs are trademarks of the respective owners.
All rights reserved.
Please refer to the controller operating instructions manual, which is available for download
as a pdf on www.beta-eSTORE.com/RKCV3
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2.2 Safety instructions
Any damage caused by failure to follow the operating instructions will render the
guarantee/warranty null and void. We accept no liability for consequential damages.
We also accept no liability for material or personal damages caused by inappropriate
handling or failure to follow the safety instructions. In such cases, the warranty/guarantee is null and void.
• For safety and licensing (CE) reasons, unauthorised reconfiguration or modification of
the product is not permitted. Never disassemble the product.
• The product is designed for operation through the public mains supply only
(230V~/50Hz) and must be properly earthed. Plug the controller into a regulationcompliant earth socket.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
• This product is not a toy and is not intended for use by children. Operate and store
the product out of children’s reach. Children may attempt to insert objects into the
openings of the unit, risking fatal electric shock.
• The product is only suited to dry indoor areas and must not get damp or wet. Never
use the product outdoors or in damp or humid conditions, and never handle it with
damp or wet hands. This could lead to fatal electric shock.
• The product must always be operated under supervision.
• Due to the risk of fire or explosion, the product should not be operated in any environment that is or may be exposed to flammable gases, fumes or types of dust.
• This product is intended for private use only and not for commercial use.
• The product is only intended to regulate a soldering or reflow oven and should not be
connected to any other devices.
• The product only isolates one pole of the socket on the connection cable from the
mains. Even if the product is switched off, mains voltage may still be present around
the socket and the connected device.
• Do not use the product as a “circuit breaker” for the connected device.
• Before connecting the product to a PC, you must unplug it from the mains socket.
• Handle the product with care as it can be damaged by impact or as a result of falling
from even low heights.
• Do not continue to use the product if the product housing gets damaged. If it is still connected to the mains, do not touch it or any other attached devices. First, break off the
electrical circuit to which the product is connected (switch off the automatic circuit breaker).
You can now unplug the attached device and remove the controller from the mains socket.
Then bring the product to a repair workshop or dispose of it in an environmentally appropriate way.
• Dispose of packaging carefully as it could be dangerous in the hands of children.
• If you are concerned about the functioning, operation or safety of the product, consult
a specialist. Do not work on the product yourself.
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3 Introduction
The reflow controller controls your reflow oven kit. To get the best soldering result,
specified times and temperatures must be maintained when soldering SMD components
using solder paste.
The reflow controller regulates your reflow oven in such a way that times and temperatures are maintained and the optimum soldering result is achieved.
The boards and components are heated gradually during a preheat phase in order to
avoid mechanical stress in those elements.
Following the preheat phase, the temperature is raised to just below the soldering temperature. In this way, the volatile components of the solder paste can escape with no
blistering.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
The oven is then heated to the soldering temperature. The solder paste liquefies and the
components adhere to the board. The temperature is kept stable during the soldering
process in order to avoid damage through overheating.
The controller beeps to signal the end of the soldering phase.
The soldered board can now be removed from the oven.
You can adapt the solder curves to your own requirements. Up to five different curves
can be stored in the reflow controller.
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4 Technical data
Operating voltage: 230 V/AC 50 Hz (EU)
110 V/AC 60 Hz (USA)
Fuse: 8A-T (EU)
15A-T (USA)
Maximum power consumption: 1500 W
PC connection: USB
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
5 Operating and display elements
The reflow controller has a console with cables for connection to the mains and the reflow oven. The
console has 7 control buttons, 2 LEDs for controlling data traffic via the USB port, a display and an
acoustic alarm.
ON/OFF power switchSensor connection
Display
START button
LEFT button
OK button
STOP button
UP button
RIGHT button
DOWN button
Control LEDs
The display shows information on the current soldering process, as well as error messages.
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Operating elements
ON/OFF power switch
The reflow controller can be switched on and off using the power switch. We recommend that you end the current soldering process before switching off the power, or
alternatively, interrupt it using the STOP button
START button
Starts the soldering process. When the controller is first started, START initiates the
learn function for the oven.
STOP button
Interrupts the current soldering process.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
OK button
Confirms previous settings and also brings you to the settings menu.
UP button
Increases setting values and also brings you to the previous item in a menu.
DOWN button
Decreases setting values and also brings you to the next item in a menu.
RIGHT button
Selects the next element at the same menu level.
LEFT button
Selects the previous element at the same menu level.
Display elements
Control LEDs
The LEDs display the data traffic on a connected PC. If no PC is connected, the LEDs
are not significant.
Display
The display shows all relevant information regarding your reflow controller. It is structured
as follows:
Current status
STATUS N xxxC
Current phase
PHASE yyyS
Number of active
parameter sets
Time elapsed
Temperature
Measurement unit
Temperature
Measurement unit
Time
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6 Self-test
When the controller is switched on, it runs a system test.
• Display test
The version number of the software will appear on the screen for around one second.
Please have this number ready in the event of any support queries.
• Sensor test
A temperature sensor check is done to determine whether a sensor is attached and if
so, to ensure it is isolated from the mains.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
If no sensor is found or the sensor is giving an error message, the display will show the
status “Error” followed by “Sensor”.
If this error is displayed, please check the sensor and ensure it is attached correctly. The
error message will disappear as soon as the controller finds a correctly attached sensor.
• Buzzer test
The acoustic alarm is activated for one second.
The first time the controller is switched on or following a software update, the error mes-
sage ‘Learn’ will be displayed after the self-test.
This indicates that the controller has not yet learned the oven characteristics and is not
ready for operation. A learn cycle must be carried out.
Error xxxC
Learn
7 Operating modes/soldering
7.1 Appropriate oven
Please note that specific characteristics must be set for every oven type. In general, the
following capacity limits apply for reflow ovens:
Europe: 220..240 V~ / 8 A, 50 Hz
USA: 110 V~ / 15 A, 60 Hz
Maximum power consumption: 1500 W
Higher oven capacity than the above is not supported and will destroy the controller.
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Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
Please note that the oven must be able to build up to the temperature required for the
soldering process. If the oven capacity is too low, it heats too slowly and this may expose the components to more thermal stress.
Please note the maximum temperature resistance of the sensor.
Note on using fan (convection) ovens:
Fan ovens should not be used because when the heat and fan functions are controlled
simultaneously, the resulting air movement causes ‘hot spots’ in the oven, which can
lead to significant temperature fluctuations.
7.2. Preparing the oven
Before you start soldering, you must prepare the oven and the temperature sensor.
• Connect the supplied sensor to the reflow controller, taking care to maintain correct
polarity.
• Run the sensor cable into the soldering area of the oven.
• Secure the sensor in such a way that the end of it is as close as possible to the
soldering material.
TIP Attach the temperature sensor to a segment of board using a wire and place it along-
side the board to be soldered. The board segment should have specifications identical to
the board to be soldered.
The sensor supplied is heat-resistant up to 260 °C (500 °F).
Please ensure that your oven does not exceed the above temperature.
Please ensure also that the sensor cable does not come in contact with oven parts that
may be hotter than 260 °C.
• Connect the mains plug of your reflow oven to the controller socket.
• Switch your reflow oven to the highest heat capacity.
• Switch the upper and lower heat on and slide the grill into the middle of the oven.
• Switch the oven temperature regulator to the highest setting.
• Set the oven timer to > 30 minutes. The oven should not be preheated
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7.3 Learning the oven characteristics
Before the oven can be used for soldering, the controller has to learn its heat and tem-
perature characteristics.
This is necessary before first use and after every software update at least.
The learned values are stored in the controller and used for all subsequent soldering
processes. However, you can repeat the learn process as often as you wish.
The controller always uses the results of the most recent learn event.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
The message “Error learn“ on the display indicates that the learn phase has to be run
and the controller is not yet ready for soldering.
When you see this message, start the learn process by pressing START.
You can also start the learn phase at a later time, as follows:
• Connect the oven and temperature sensor according to the instructions and switch on
the controller.
• After the self-test, please wait until the oven is heated to a just below 50 °C.
• Now press OK once and the message “Setup” will appear on the display. Press OK
again and press “Down” while the message “Setup” is still present (around 2 seconds).
“Learn” will now appear in the bottom line of the display. Press OK to start the learn
process. Please wait until the learn process is fully complete and do not interrupt it. The
controller is only ready to use when the learn process is complete and the oven is at just
below 50 °C.
• The learn process requires a board to be placed in the oven and the temperature sensor
positioned under or over the board in such a way that they make contact with each other.
This will ensure that the temperature sensor measures the board temperature and not
the air temperature.
• Close the oven and start the learn process as described above.
During the learn process, the “Learn” status is displayed, with information on each
phase of the process.
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Reflow Controller V3 PRO
Operating Instructions
The oven is now heated to 100 °C. Once it reaches this temperature, the heat is
switched off. The controller now measures how much more the oven will heat despite
the heat being off.
A beep signals the end of the learn process and the display indicates the “Cooling”
phase.
• The oven door can now be opened.
The controller has now calculated and stored the oven’s characteristics.
When the oven has cooled to below 50 °C, it is ready for reflow soldering.
7.4 Reflow soldering
The reflow controller works by taking control of the oven. It uses one of 5 possible parameter sets for the reflow process.
In this way, you can define parameter sets for different soldering processes. Please select the required parameter set before starting the soldering process.
Chapter 9, “Setting parameters via the computer”, contains further information on how
to change the active parameter set.
The number of the currently selected parameter set is shown on the display.
Ready 2 125C
The soldering process can only be started when the reflow oven has been heated to
< 50 °C. If you want to solder several boards in quick succession, the oven temperature
must drop to below 50 °C between each soldering operation.
To solder the board, position it in the middle of the grill. Place the temperature sensor
under or over the board in such a way that it makes contact with the board. This ensures that the sensor will calculate the board temperature and not the air temperature.
Close the oven door and check again that the temperature sensor has not slipped away
from the board.
Press START to begin the automatic soldering process.
Solder 2 320F
Soak 20S
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