PCBA Cleaning Machines

Choose the Cleaning Route for Your PCBA

The correct equipment depends on where the contamination is located, whether mechanical contact is acceptable and how the cleaning operation must fit production.

Production Requirement	Cleaning Route	DEZ Equipment
Visible flux marks or loose solder balls concentrated on one accessible solder side	Single-side brush cleaning	Automatic Single-Sided PCBA Cleaning Machine DEZ-C758 or Automatic PCBA Brush Cleaning Machine DEZ-C760
Different PCBAs processed together through washing, rinsing and drying	Offline batch aqueous cleaning	Offline PCBA Cleaning Machine for Batch Flux Removal DEZ-C743
PCBAs must move continuously through a complete aqueous process	Inline aqueous cleaning	Inline Water-Based PCBA Cleaning Machine DEZ-C1360
The aqueous cleaner requires a dedicated DI rinse-water source	DI-water production	Deionized Water System for PCBA Cleaning DEZ-CS300

C758 and C760 both require direct brush access to the contaminated surface. C758 uses wet brushing, dry brushing and fan drying, while C760 uses one rotary brush and two roller brushes. Final selection should be based on PCBA dimensions, component clearance, board-edge access and a representative sample.

Brush cleaning targets contamination that can be physically reached. It must not be presented as full-board aqueous cleaning or as proof that an ionic-cleanliness requirement has been met.

How the Cleaning Processes Work

Single-Side Brush Cleaning

Cleaning-Agent Application → Mechanical Brushing → Residue Removal and Drying

The brushes contact one accessible solder-side surface to remove visible flux marks, loose solder balls and surface debris. Component layout, protruding leads and board-edge clearance determine whether mechanical brushing is suitable.

Offline Batch Aqueous Cleaning

Load → Chemical Spray Wash → DI-Water Rinse → Hot-Air Dry

The C743 holds multiple PCBAs in a two-level basket inside an enclosed chamber. The batch remains inside the machine throughout washing, rinsing and drying, making the process suitable for high-mix production that does not require continuous line integration.

Inline Aqueous Cleaning

Chemical Wash → DI-Water Rinse → Hot-Air Dry

The C1360 moves PCBAs continuously through separate process sections. Conveyor speed, cleaning chemistry, spray conditions, rinsing and drying must be configured around the actual flux, assembly construction and required production rate.

DI water performs the rinsing stage after chemical washing. It should not be described as the primary cleaning process.

What DEZ Needs Before Recommending a Machine

Information to Provide	Why It Is Required
PCBA dimensions	Confirms conveyor, basket or chamber compatibility
Contamination photographs	Shows its location and whether it is accessible
Flux and process chemistry	Determines cleaning-agent compatibility
Component layout	Identifies areas that may be difficult to wash or brush
Minimum component standoff	Affects fluid access beneath low-clearance components
Required cleaning result	Defines whether visible residue removal or measured cleanliness is required
Production quantity and takt requirement	Determines batch or continuous production needs
Upstream and downstream processes	Confirms whether inline integration is required
Available factory utilities	Confirms power, DI water, drainage, compressed air and exhaust requirements

Cleaning Test and Process Confirmation

When the cleaning route has not already been established, representative PCBAs can be reviewed and tested before the final machine configuration is confirmed.

For brush cleaning, testing determines whether the contamination can be reached without applying unsuitable mechanical contact to the assembly. For aqueous cleaning, testing evaluates the proposed chemistry, washing, rinsing and drying conditions against the actual flux, materials and component layout.

A visually clean PCBA does not automatically meet an ionic-cleanliness requirement. When measured cleanliness is required, the customer’s test method and acceptance limit must be agreed before process confirmation.

Where PCBA Cleaning Fits in Production

PCBA cleaning is normally evaluated after soldering and before a downstream operation that requires a defined level of board cleanliness:

Reflow, Wave or Selective Soldering → PCBA Cleaning → Inspection, Conformal Coating or Downstream Assembly

Typical cases include mixed SMT/THT assemblies after wave or selective soldering, PCBAs requiring post-reflow residue removal and assemblies prepared for conformal coating. The flux system, assembly construction and customer requirement determine whether cleaning is necessary; soldering alone does not automatically mean every PCBA requires aqueous washing.

Read more about PCBA flux residue and ionic contamination cleaning, choosing a PCBA cleaning process after soldering and inline versus offline PCBA cleaning machines.

These processes are used for assemblies produced in automotive electronics, EMS and contract manufacturing and other electronics-production environments.

DI Water for Aqueous PCBA Cleaning

Batch and inline aqueous cleaners can require a controlled DI-water supply after the chemical-washing stage.

The DEZ-CS300 Deionized Water System combines RO and mixed-bed purification in one enclosed cabinet. Its suitability must be calculated from the cleaning machine’s rinse-water demand and the incoming-water condition rather than selected independently.

Buyer FAQ

Can the same cleaning process remove every type of flux?

No. The cleaning chemistry and process conditions must be compatible with the actual flux, PCB materials, component packages and coatings. Provide the flux information and a representative assembly before the cleaning recipe is confirmed.

Does no-clean flux always need to be removed?

No-clean flux can remain when the soldering process and product requirement have been validated for it. Cleaning may still be required before conformal coating, for cosmetic acceptance, after process changes or when the customer specifies a cleanliness limit.

Can brush cleaning confirm ionic cleanliness?

No. Brush cleaning can remove reachable visible residue and loose solder balls, but appearance does not measure ionic contamination. A defined test method is required when ionic cleanliness is part of the acceptance requirement.

Can aqueous cleaning remove residue underneath components?

That depends on component standoff, board layout, flux chemistry, spray or fluid access and the required result. Low-clearance components are an important reason to review and test the actual PCBA before confirming the process.

What utilities does a PCBA cleaning machine require?

Requirements vary by model. Aqueous systems can require compatible cleaning chemistry, DI water, drainage, exhaust and model-specific electrical power. Brush machines may require cleaning fluid, compressed air and exhaust or waste collection. Confirm the installation conditions before ordering.

Send Your PCBA for Cleaning Review

Do not select a PCBA cleaning machine only from its external dimensions or stated capacity.

Send DEZ a representative PCBA or contamination photographs together with the board dimensions, flux information, required cleaning result and production quantity. DEZ will review the applicable cleaning process, equipment model and factory utility requirements.