Why isn't my reflow oven's conveyor belt moving correctly?
A conveyor belt problem usually shows up one of two ways: the belt stops moving entirely, or boards start coming out under-reflowed because the belt is not moving at the set profile speed.
A quick note on models: the IN6 and IN12 move boards on a fixed wire mesh conveyor belt, while the IN6C, IN8C, and IN12C carry boards on adjustable rails with top and bottom reflow capabilities. If your conveyor has stopped, please contact support and we will walk through the issue with you.
If the belt has stopped moving
Start by looking at the belt itself, then at the motor that drives it. The motor that turns the conveyor is in the same area, but on the inside of the oven.
What you find tells you which part needs attention:
The motor is turning but the belt is not moving. The belt itself has failed.
The motor is not turning and the belt looks fine. The problem is most likely electrical, and it could be an issue with one of two boards: the drive board, mounted on the back of the motor itself, or the main power board, located behind the hatch to the right with the power cord. Never touch the power board or control board while the machine is powered on.
We stock conveyor parts right here in the US, so contact us at support@neodenusa.com with your oven model and serial number (the serial number is shown briefly in the lower right corner of the display at power up) and we will help you confirm what you need to resolve your issue.
If boards are coming out under-reflowed
If your profile used to work and boards have started coming out with cold or dull joints, check the actual belt speed before you change the profile. A belt running slower or faster than the set value changes how long boards spend in each zone, which shifts the entire reflow profile.
To measure the conveyor belt speed, all you need is a ruler and a stopwatch: set a speed, mark a starting point, and time how far the belt travels in one minute. For example, at a setting of 150 mm/min the belt should travel 150 mm in 60 seconds. Every oven comes with a temperature probe for real-time thermal profiling. Use this when testing your reflow profile outcomes.
If the measured speed does not match the set speed, please contact support for help. A simple fix is to simply adjust the speed setting as necessary until the boards come out right.
Helpful tips: Whenever you change the conveyor speed, re-measure your temperature curve, as zone dwell times may shift. The speed ranges differ by model: the IN6 and IN6C run 50 to 300 mm/min, while the IN8C and IN12C run 50 to 600 mm/min.
Keeping the belt healthy
On the IN6, IN6C, and IN12, we recommend regularly adding high temperature lubricating oil to the transfer chain bearings at the ends of the belt. The IN8C and IN12C use a stainless steel mesh chain designed to be maintenance free, with no oiling step necessary.