04-11-2010, 06:06 AM
M A V I C wrote:
[quote=Forrest]
First I want to clarify one thing - RoHS means there is NO lead in the solder - zero.
Then why does the wikipedia say "The maximum permitted concentrations are 0.1% or 1000 ppm"?
If assembled properly, RoHS consumer electronics devices should last the same amount of time as their predecessors. The exception is devices that experience high-G's (think dropping a cellphone or aircraft). There are studies that show a dramatically DECREASED life in these applications - which is why the military, NASA and aircraft manufacturers have continued to require leaded solder.
So your saying the solder problem in the consoles is more so due to them being assembled improperly?
the vibrations and Gs generated during a space launch will break all but the most stringently designed components.
I worked on something that was subjected to 14,000Gs+. Yes fourteen thousand. It was causing insulation to strip off wires just like an old pair of socks falling down. Its a whole nother world.
Or a Navy fighter doing a carrier launches and landings.
I bet some 3rd party supplier, or outsourced assembler just thought they could swap out the solder and come in as lowest bidder. They got the contract, and with minimal thermal cycles they did pass quality control. Then the consumers did their own thermal cycling and vibration testing when the kids got their hands on them. My co worker worked at Nintendo building prototypes. They took stuff home and let their kids beat on them.