MASS GmbH has officially opened its new Demo Center at the company headquarters in Anröchte, Germany. The facility is designed for hands-on testing of PCB production equipment, focused on application development, process validation, and system evaluation under realistic manufacturing conditions.
Focus Areas of the MASS Demo Center
The Demo Center supports customers and partners in:
- Application-specific development and optimization
- Evaluation of system performance behavior under real production conditions
- Feasibility studies
- Customer-specific use case testing
This environment is intended for PCB manufacturers seeking to evaluate and refine their processes using vacuum-based plugging systems, wet grinding machines, and thermal drying units.
Installed Equipment for PCB Process Demonstration
The following systems are available for use in the Demo Center:
VCP 5000-1 – Vacuum Chamber Plugging System with external squeegee unit
This machine is used for filling through-holes and blind vias in printed circuit boards with conductive or non-conductive paste.
Conventional systems apply vacuum only briefly and locally, limiting their effectiveness in evacuating air and moisture from PCB via holes. In contrast, the MASS VCP system uses a complete vacuum chamber, exposing the entire board to a controlled low-pressure environment for an adjustable duration. This enables efficient evacuation of gas molecules, significantly enhancing the quality and reliability of the subsequent via filling process.
At low pressures, especially in the Knudsen and molecular flow regime, gas evacuation is dominated by the random thermal motion of molecules. Adequate vacuum time is essential to minimize residual air and water vapor in the holes. The attached CFD simulation illustrates molecular behavior under these conditions, highlighting the superior degassing capability of the MASS system.
By drastically reducing residuals, the MASS vacuum chamber enables high-quality, void-free filling. It also supports multiple filling cycles without displacing previously applied paste — a limitation in conventional systems where vacuum is restricted to the filling head.
SV 200 WV – Wet Grinding Machine
Following via hole plugging, the SV 200 WV is used to remove excess paste and create a flat, uniform copper surface. The grinding disk is powered by a servo motor, and manual X-Y movement allows controlled and repeatable operation.
This machine is particularly relevant for ensuring consistent surface quality before further PCB processing steps such as metallization or imaging.
Drying Oven (up to 160 °C, 2-Zone Design)
This compact thermal oven is used for drying pastes, coatings, and resins. It features two heating zones for stable temperature control, offering efficient and space-saving thermal processing during PCB manufacturing.
The system is adaptable to various applications and supports energy-efficient operation for drying cycles in small to mid-size production setups.
Target Audience and Use Cases
The Demo Center is intended for:
- PCB manufacturers testing via hole filling processes
- Process engineers evaluating thermal or surface processing equipment
- R&D departments conducting feasibility or pilot trials
- Customers requiring tailored workflows based on MASS systems
On-site visits or remote sessions can be arranged individually. MASS experts are available to provide assistance during testing procedures.
Contact and Booking
To schedule a visit or remote demonstration session at the MASS Demo Center, please use the contact form on our website.