WELCOME

MICROSCAN is a collaboration between EU companies and research organisations with a view to producing a powerful tool in the total quality control of PCB assemblies. All current PCB inspection systems have a major drawback in that none (except perhaps AOI) can be installed in-line and consequently can only be used to conduct batch tests with limited defect detection capability. AOI currently is also limited to line-of-sight inspection and cannot be applied to hidden joints and devices/features (e.g. ball grid array packages, integrated passives and vias in multi-layer boards), which are increasingly being used on high density boards. It also needs to be developed for the new lead-free alloys with their 'dull' surface finish and new joint profiles.

This project will overcome these problems by delivering 4 non-destructive Testing (NDT) inspection prototypes that can be fully integrated with a PCB production line with the aim of providing full quality control of the PCB assembly process.