October 7, 2026

Roller conveyors are the workhorses of SMT production, moving PCBs between pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, and inspection stations with precision that manual handling can’t achieve. But with so many manufacturers claiming quality, knowing what actually matters—bearing quality, SMEMA compatibility, thermal resistance, and IoT readiness—can mean the difference between a line that runs smoothly for years and one that constantly eats into your maintenance budget.

Solder joint defects account for roughly 60% of all SMT-related failures in electronics manufacturing. But here’s the good news: most of these are preventable. In this practical guide, SMT veteran Jace Liu breaks down common reflow defects—from visible issues like bridging and tombstoning to hidden BGA and QFN problems—explaining what causes them, how to spot them, and exactly how to fix them. Whether you’re troubleshooting your current line or building quality into your process from scratch, this guide has what you need.