20 Nov Electronics Cleanrooms 101: Everything You Need to Know
If you think keeping your house clean is difficult, imagine keeping a space spotless when a single dust particle can become problematic. In electronics manufacturing, this is an unfortunate reality. In this article, we’ll cover why cleanrooms are important for electronics manufacturing, and discuss their applications and features.
Why Does Electronics Manufacturing/Assembly Need Cleanrooms?
Electronics manufacturing and assembly expose the inner workings of devices to all kinds of contamination. And unfortunately, this means that even a single speck of dust can cause defects. Given that many everyday items today are becoming “computerized,” so to speak (think cars, televisions, refrigerators), cleanrooms are becoming more and more relevant. To see why cleanrooms are of such high importance, let’s take a look at what exactly they do.
Electronics cleanrooms create a controlled environment where:
- Airborne particles are removed: Special filters catch tiny particles (dust, microbes, and more) that could potentially damage electronics.
- Static electricity is reduced: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can destroy electronic parts, such as microchips and circuit boards. As a result, special measures are taken to reduce the chances of ESD as much as possible.
- Environmental conditions are carefully managed: Conditions such as humidity must be adjusted and monitored, as low levels can create too much static electricity.
Without cleanrooms, many electronics manufacturers would not be able to create their products nearly as effectively.
What are Some Applications of Electronics Cleanrooms?
As we alluded to already, cleanrooms that house different kinds of electronics manufacturing are used in many industries, including the following:
- Semiconductors: Wafers and microchips have to be built in extremely clean environments, or else they may be damaged or rendered useless.
- Aerospace: Satellites, GPS systems, and other electronic tools depend heavily on cleanrooms; if aerospace equipment starts to malfunction, it can cost a company their reputation and even lives.
- Consumer Electronics: Many other products, including smartphones, cameras, and TVs, also need to have their parts manufactured within them.
What are the Features of Electronics Cleanrooms?
They have many of the same features as other types of cleanrooms, but with a few extra precautions:
- Filtration Systems: The backbone of any cleanroom is its filtration system, and electronics cleanrooms are no different. They may use HEPA filters, ULPA filters, or both, depending on how strict the space needs to be. For certain stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process, for example, filtration requirements are very strict, which often means they will use ULPA filters exclusively.
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Protection: They often need to have anti-static flooring, special garments, wrist straps, mats, and other tools to reduce the risk of ESD ruining fragile parts.
- Humidity Control: HVAC systems regulate humidity to make sure it doesn’t drop too low, as this can cause static electricity to build up.
Electronics Cleanrooms: The Bottom Line
Cleanrooms are an important and often underrated part of electronics manufacturing. They shield sensitive electrical parts from contamination and electrostatic discharge, which goes a long way to improve overall product yields for many companies. As more everyday items incorporate electronics, we’re likely to see a big rise in the use of cleanrooms in the coming decades.
Thinking about adding a cleanroom to your space? Contact the experts at Allied Cleanrooms today and get a free quote!