S-168 Automatic PCBA Cleaning Machine with 4-Stage Brush Process

After soldering, boards still carry flux residue, tin beads, and handling scratches. Wiping them by hand with solvent puts operators in direct contact with chemicals and leaves results inconsistent from board to board. On high-end assemblies, that variability is a warranty risk. The S-168 washes boards in-line using a disc brush and two roller brushes in a 4-stage wet/dry process, turning cleanliness into a repeatable, programmable outcome rather than a hand-skill variable.

The cost you haven't named: manual post-solder wiping

• Flux residue survives hand wiping. Solvent rags miss tight pitches and under-connector pockets, leaving ionic residue that drives corrosion and intermittent field failures.
• Tin beads remain and short later. Beads that are loosely brushed off can relocate onto exposed pads, causing test escapes and rework that hand wiping never fully clears.
• Operator contact with chemistry. Manual wiping exposes staff to solvents and flux vapors every shift, adding recurring safety and compliance burdens at the bench.
• Cleanliness varies by hand. Wipe quality changes with each operator, so lot-to-lot visual and ionic results are not repeatable across shifts or lines.
• Dead angles stay dirty. Flat wiping cannot reach board edges and standoff corners, so the same contaminated zones pass inspection and fail later in the field.

The Four-Brush Cleanliness Audit

1. List the residue types. Record what each board carries after soldering — flux, tin beads, scratches — so the brush set and wet/dry stages match the actual contamination profile.

2. Map the board width range. Note your narrowest and widest PCB, including the minimum board edge, so the brushes cover the full width without leaving an uncleaned strip.

3. Score the dead-angle risk. Identify corners, standoffs, and edge zones a flat wipe cannot reach. These are the areas where a disc plus roller brush system earns its place.

4. Confirm the in-line fit. Decide whether cleaning must sit inline after reflow or wave. An online machine removes the manual hand-off and keeps boards moving.

The vehicle: S-168 Automatic PCBA Cleaning Machine

The S-168 is an online automatic PCBA cleaning machine that washes boards in-line, replacing manual solvent wiping and reducing rework on high-end assemblies.

• List the residue types → 4-stage wet/dry process. Four brush stages remove flux, tin beads, and scratches in sequence, so each contamination type is handled by the right stage rather than one generic wipe.
• Map the board width range → 10 to 500 mm coverage. It handles boards from 10 to 500 mm wide with a minimum board edge of 1.5 mm, covering most SMT and THT panel widths.
• Score the dead-angle risk → disc plus two roller brushes. A D300 disc brush with two roller abrasive brushes reaches edge and standoff zones, eliminating the cleaning dead angles of hand wiping.
• Confirm the in-line fit → anti-static brown-hair brushes. Imported anti-static brushes clean without damaging the PCB surface, so the machine drops into the line after reflow or wave.

Specification note: exact transmission speed, brush spindle range, and stage configuration should be confirmed at quotation, because they depend on your board width, residue load, and line speed.

Specifications

| Parameter | Value |

| --- | --- |

| Model | S-168 |

| PCB size | 300 × 300 mm max; width 10–500 mm |

| Cleaning process | 4-stage wet/dry brush modules |

| Brush system | Disc brush D300 + roller abrasive brushes |

| Spindle speed | 0–500 R/min (stepless) |

| Transmission speed | 0.05–1.8 m/min (stepless) |

| Power | 0.5 kW, 220 V 50 Hz (110 V available) |

| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 1750 × 770 × 980 mm |

Parameters can be customized to match different board widths and line speeds at quotation.

The loop: re-audit the clean program every quarter

Residue profiles change with new solder pastes and board finishes. Build a loop: every quarter, re-run the Four-Brush Cleanliness Audit, compare ionic and visual cleanliness against the baseline, and review brush wear with your process lead. If a new board width or finish arrives, re-confirm the spindle speed and transmission setting at quotation before volume builds. The S-168's stepless speed control means a program change handles the new board — the loop is what keeps cleanliness matched to the product instead of drifting back to manual variance.

Your next step

Send us your board widths, residue types, and line speed. We will return a short review covering where the S-168 fits, which brush configuration to specify, and what to confirm at quotation. Reach Jason at jasonwu@smthelp.com or on WhatsApp +86 13602562576.

FAQ

What does the S-168 remove?

Flux, tin beads, and handling scratches from assembled PCBs after soldering, in a repeatable in-line process.

What board widths does it handle?

Boards from 10 to 500 mm wide, with a maximum size of 300 × 300 mm and a minimum board edge of 1.5 mm.

How does it avoid cleaning dead angles?

A D300 disc brush plus two roller abrasive brushes reach edge and standoff zones that flat hand wiping misses.

Will the brushes damage the board?

It uses imported anti-static brown-hair brushes designed to clean without scratching the PCB surface.

What power does it use?

0.5 kW, 220 V 50 Hz, with 110 V available, and stepless spindle and transmission speed control.

Jason Wu

Founder & CEO, Southern Machinery (Shenzhen Southern Machinery Sales and Service Co., Ltd.)

Email: jasonwu@smthelp.com / info@smthelp.com

WhatsApp: +86 13602562576

Catalog & manuals: file.autoinsertion.com | Machine photos: ph.smthelp.com

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