PCBA cleaning · in-line and batch

Wash, rinse and dry — before your customer finds the residue

SME-6300 keeps high-volume SMT lines flowing; SME5600D and AC510 cabinets serve high-mix EMS cells. Both run water-based chemistry with monitored DI rinse and closed-loop filtration.

Board sizes, flux types and cycle times below are quoted from official Southern Machinery datasheets.

Southern Machinery cleaning machine photoSouthern Machinery cleaning machine photoSouthern Machinery cleaning machine photoSouthern Machinery cleaning machine photo
The lineup

Choose your platform

SME-6300 PCBA In-line Cleaning Machine — Southern Machinery
SME-6300 PCBA In-line Cleaning Machine viewSME-6300 PCBA In-line Cleaning Machine view
In-line · after reflow or wave

SME-6300 PCBA In-line Cleaning Machine

Continuous wash–rinse–dry tunnel integrated into the line. Mitsubishi PLC safety logic, angle-adjustable air knives, three-stage drying and a 1000 L/h DI rinse loop. Removes rosin, no-clean and water-soluble flux, solder paste balls and organic/inorganic residues.

SMEMA integrationAir-knife + hot air dryUPS power-off protectionPhase-sequence protection
SME-6300 — key specifications
PCBA size500×400 mm max (W×L) · 50×50 mm min · component height up to 100 mm
Conveyor500 mm net width, 0.1–1.5 m/min, L→R, net height 900±25 mm
Process tempsLiquid RT–80 °C · DI rinse RT–60 °C · drying RT–100 °C
DI water6–15 L/min supply, resistivity monitored 0–18 MΩ, 1000 L/h rinse system
Tanks & filtration280 L clean tank, 60 L pre-rinse, 40 L rinse · 1 μm liquid filter
UtilitiesAC380V 3P 50/60 Hz (110 kW installed) · air 0.5–0.7 MPa, 200–400 L/min
FootprintL5200 × W1650 × H1650 mm · 2800 kg · noise ≈70 dB

Source: SME-6300 PCBA In-line Cleaning Machine datasheet (2020), Southern Machinery official PDF.

SME5600D / SCM5600D PCBA Batch Cleaning Machine — Southern Machinery
SME5600D / SCM5600D PCBA Batch Cleaning Machine viewSME5600D / SCM5600D PCBA Batch Cleaning Machine viewSME5600D / SCM5600D PCBA Batch Cleaning Machine view
Batch · high-mix shops

SME5600D / SCM5600D PCBA Batch Cleaning Machine

Two-layer rotary-spray cabinet for medium and high-mix production. Load up to two 610×560×100 mm baskets; the 360° rotating spray bars and closed 0.22 μm filtration loop handle no-clean, rosin and water-soluble chemistry. Rinse water is monitored so a bad rinse never leaves the chamber.

Recipe programNo-clean flux readyDI rinse on demandCE design practice
SME5600D / SCM5600D — key specifications
Cleaning baskets610×560×100 mm × 2 layers
Spray360° rotating bars, 30–90 PSI adjustable
Filtration0.22 μm chemical + DI water filters (solder paste, flux particles)
Rinse3–5 DI rinse cycles · 0–18 MΩ monitored · drying RT–99 °C
Tanks32 L concentration tank · adjustable wash time per recipe
UtilitiesAC380V 50 Hz 65 A · 9 kW · air 0.45–0.7 MPa · DI 250 L/h option
FootprintL1400 × W1350 × H1830 mm · 400 kg

Source: PCBA Cleaning Machine SCM5600D (English) datasheet + SME5600D 2021 introduction, Southern Machinery. SCM5600D = legacy name of SME5600D (rebranded 2020.12).

AC510 PCBA Batch-Type Cleaning Machine — Southern Machinery
AC510 PCBA Batch-Type Cleaning Machine view
Batch · entry & mid volume

AC510 PCBA Batch-Type Cleaning Machine

The compact sibling of the SME5600D family: same two-basket rotary cabinet format with 1 μm dual filtration and programmable rinse count — ideal for labs, NPI cells and job shops stepping off solvent wiping.

Programmable rinsesCompact footprint
AC510 — key specifications
Wash basketsL610 × W560 × H100 mm, 2 layers
Spray pressure0–5 kgf/cm² liquid spray
Filtration1 μm cleaning liquid + 1 μm DI water
Rinse monitoring0–18 MΩ resistivity range
UtilitiesAC380V 50/60 Hz 65 A · air 0.5–0.7 MPa, 200–400 L/min
FootprintL1300 × W1200 × H1850 mm

Source: AC510 PCBA Batch Type Cleaning machine Introduction 2023, Southern Machinery.

S-168 Automatic PCBA Brush Cleaning Machine — Southern Machinery
S-168 Automatic PCBA Brush Cleaning Machine view
In-line · conformal-coat & prep

S-168 Automatic PCBA Brush Cleaning Machine

Rotary brush + solvent-free scrubbing lane for conformal-coating prep, wave-solder flux escape cleaning and edge-dressing tasks. Fully documented in the S-168 operation manual.

In-lineLow consumables
S-168 — highlight
MethodMotorized brush lane, board top & bottom contact cleaning
Typical usePre-coating particle/flux removal, post-process cleanup
DocsS-168 operation manual (PDF) with full mechanical detail

Source: S-168 automatic PCBA brush cleaning machine manual, Southern Machinery Manual archive.

Full spec table is being re-verified against the latest S-168 manual revision — ask us for the confirmed sheet.
Equipment selection guide

Which machine fits your EMS line?

Tell us your product mix and we will spec it — this section shows how we typically match lines to factories.

High volume

SME-6300 in-line

EMS SMT lines ≥ 2 shifts

Hard integrated after reflow or wave. Continuous flow, SMEMA hand-off, ~40 m³/min exhaust sizing — the default for automotive and telecom boards.

SME5600D cabinet

High-mix / job shop

Two baskets per load, recipe programs per product family. The pragmatic choice when changeovers beat throughput.

AC510 / S-168

NPI, labs, coating prep

Start aqueous cleaning where solvent wiping used to live. Small footprint, simple utilities, documented process.

How it works

How an in-line PCBA washer works

WASH
RINSE
DRY
SMEMA hand-off · boards move continuously through wash, rinse and dry
  • Wash — heated aqueous solution floods the chamber; upper/lower spray manifolds at 40–60 PSI push under components.
  • Rinse — DI water final rinse; conductivity meter watches the sump so drift is caught live.
  • Dry — angle-adjustable air knives sheet water off, then hot-air modules finish at up to 100 °C.
  • Flow — boards enter and exit on one conveyor; you set dwell by net speed (0.1–1.5 m/min).
Return on investment

Cleaning pays for itself — fast

≈1 yrTypical payback vs field-return exposure
0.22 μmFiltration protects bath & boards
3–5×DI rinse passes before dry
18 MΩRinse water purity monitored

Numbers per SME5600D / SME-6300 datasheets. Send your board mix and we will model payback against your scrap + rework rate.

Installation guide

Ready to run in a normal production day

Typical site preparation for Southern Machinery aqueous cleaning equipment. Exact utilities for each model are in its manual.

Site & floor

Level concrete, service aisle both sides, floor layout drawing supplied with order.

Utilities

3-phase AC380V + compressed air 0.5–0.7 MPa; water inlet & drain per layout.

Conveyor hand-off

Match net height 900±25 mm and SMEMA signals to upstream/downstream machines.

Chemistry fill

Load recommended aqueous concentrate at suggested ratio; verify sump heaters.

Trial run

First-article boards + ROI/cleanliness test (ionic contamination check on request).

Layout drawing includedCommissioning guide: SME-6300 Installation & Precision Setup (PDF)Training on video call or on site
Watch the machines run

Real footage from our YouTube channel

Click any video to load it from YouTube — nothing streams until you ask.

Operating a PCBA in-line cleaning machine
Operating a PCBA in-line cleaning machine
What is an online PCBA cleaner
What is an online PCBA cleaner
SME5600 PCBA cleaning machine
SME5600 PCBA cleaning machine
Automatic PCBA cleaning after wave soldering
Automatic PCBA cleaning after wave soldering
Cleaning PCBAs after wave soldering
Cleaning PCBAs after wave soldering
In-line board & stencil cleaning footage
In-line board & stencil cleaning footage
SMT PCBA automatic brush cleaning machine (S-168)
SMT PCBA automatic brush cleaning machine (S-168)
PCB cleaning machine on a high-end SMT line
PCB cleaning machine on a high-end SMT line

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Catalogs & manuals

Take the paperwork with you

Official Southern Machinery datasheets, manuals and validation reports, hosted on our file server.

PDF

SME-6300 datasheet (2020)

In-line cleaner full spec & process chambers.

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PDF

SME-6300 manual (2021)

Operation & maintenance.

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PDF

SME-6300 installation guide

Precision setup for floor, utilities, conveyor.

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PDF

SME5600D introduction (2021)

Batch cabinet platform.

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PDF

SCM5600D datasheet (English)

Legacy-name datasheet for same family.

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PDF

SCM5600 operation & maintenance manual

Version history V5.1 lineage.

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PDF

AC510 batch cleaner (2023)

Compact batch option.

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PDF

SME-350MB in-line ROI pack

Client-ready ROI & spec sheet.

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PDF

S-168 brush cleaner manual

Brush-lane operation.

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FAQ

Questions EMS engineers actually ask

Which fluxes can be cleaned?
Rosin, no-clean and water-soluble flux, solder paste residues and solder balls — per SME-6300/SME5600D datasheets. We match chemistry to your paste and wave process.
Do you verify cleanliness?
On request, trial boards are tested for ionic contamination (ROSE-style) and visual under magnification before shipping; validation reports exist for pallet cleaning at Schneider (see Fixture page).
Will it fit my conveyor?
Standard net height 900±25 mm with SMEMA signals; custom heights are routine. Send a line layout and we mark up entry/exit.
What does the DI rinse cost me?
The SME5600D pairs with a 250 L/h DI plant option; the SME-6300 uses 6–15 L/min during rinse. Our DI-250/DI200 units (Ultrasonic & DI Water page) cover both.
Batch or in-line — how to choose?
If daily volume is continuous and boards ≥ panel size, in-line wins on cost/board. High-mix, frequent changeovers, or boards over 500×400 mm: batch cabinet.

Send us your flux, your boards, your cycle time.

Every quote from Southern Machinery includes chemistry guidance, a layout drawing and an ROI estimate. Reply within 2 business hours, solution in 3 days.

Email info@smthelp.com WhatsApp +86 136 0256 2576