Setting Up a Conformal Coating Production Line

Building a robust conformal coating production line starts with clear requirements, the right equipment, and disciplined process control. This guide outlines a proven approach—from application and drying to inspection and QA—so you can reduce defects, improve yield, and meet customer and industry workmanship expectations.

If you’re building from scratch, the goal is simple: stable film build + controlled keep-outs + repeatable cure + verified acceptance.

Article Quicklinks

Topic	Jump
1) Define requirements (spec, thickness, keep-outs, acceptance)	🔗
2) Choose equipment (application, cure, inspection, facilities)	🔗
3) Control plan (viscosity, recipes, SPC, coupons)	🔗
4) Inspection & QA (coverage, thickness, defects, records)	🔗
Line layout (recommended station order)	🔗
Common failure points (where lines leak yield)	🔗
Download (PDF bulletin)	🔗

1) Define Process Requirements

Start with customer drawings/specs and standards so the line is designed for compliance, not rework.

• Coating chemistry: acrylic, urethane, silicone, epoxy, UV-cure, or Parylene
• Thickness target: min/nom/max + how it will be verified (wet, dry, optical)
• Keep-outs & masking: what must be protected vs what must remain uncoated (and permitted tolerances)
• Acceptance criteria: workmanship alignment + coating performance expectations (where applicable)
• Rework rules: what operators can repair vs what must be escalated

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2) Select Application, Drying & Support Equipment

Choose the application method that fits volume + geometry + keep-outs, then add support equipment that stabilises the process window.

• Application: dip systems or selective/manual spray
• Drying/Curing: cabinets/ovens matched to chemistry, solvent loading and takt time
• Inspection: UV/white-light booths for controlled, repeatable coverage checks
• Measurement: wet film gauges, dry film gauges, optical where relevant
• Facilities: extraction, ESD control, temperature/RH management, safe solvent handling

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3) Process Control & Repeatability

A coating line becomes reliable when you lock parameters as recipes and verify outputs routinely (closed-loop).

• Viscosity window: defined by coating + method; record temperature and correct drift
• Recipe locking: speeds, passes, pressures/flow, dip dwell/withdrawal, flash-off and cure
• Thickness strategy: wet→dry correlation and a coupon/witness-board plan
• SPC signals: trend thickness, defect rate, rework rate—act before out-of-spec

See also: Viscosity Control and Thickness Measurement Methods.

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4) Inspection & Quality Assurance

Inspection must be a built-in station, not an afterthought—this is how you stop defects escaping and keep audits easy.

• Coverage checks: edges, meniscus, shadowing, under-components, keep-outs
• Defect screening: pinholes, bubbles, dewetting, orange peel, delamination, contamination
• Thickness verification: routine checks (per plan) + escalation rules when trending shifts
• Records: photos where needed, batch/serial traceability, rework documentation

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Recommended Line Layout (Station Order)

A practical flow that works for most liquid coating lines:

1. Incoming checks (cleanliness, bake-out if needed, handling controls)
2. Masking station (controlled method + verification before coating)
3. Coating station (spray/dip/selective)
4. Flash-off / drain (time/airflow/angle controlled)
5. Cure (oven/UV/moisture as required)
6. De-mask + touch-up rules (defined tolerances + mandatory inspection)
7. Final inspection + thickness checks (record + release)

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Common Failure Points That Kill Yield

• Masking leakage + demask damage (often the #1 real root cause)
• Viscosity drift (solvent loss, temperature changes, poor pot management)
• Flash-off mistakes (too short → bubbles; too long → dry spray/orange peel)
• Cure profile mismatch (skinning, trapped solvent, brittle films, adhesion loss)
• No closed-loop thickness plan (out-of-spec discovered late or in the field)

If you’re seeing repeat defects, route through the Defects Hub and link the failure back to the upstream station that creates it.

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Benefits of a Well-Designed Line

• Consistent quality and fewer defects
• Higher throughput with predictable cycle times
• Standards compliance and easier audits
• Flexibility to support new products or chemistries

Download the Technical Bulletin

Prefer the PDF format? Download the bulletin for offline reference:

📄 Download: Setting Up a Conformal Coating Production Line (PDF)

Need Help With Your Line?

SCH provides complete support—from process design and equipment selection to operator training and on-site optimisation. We also offer outsourced coating services when you need extra capacity.

Contact SCH to discuss your coating line →

Why Choose SCH Services?

Partnering with SCH Services means more than just outsourcing — you gain a complete, integrated platform for
Conformal Coating, Parylene & ProShieldESD Solutions, alongside equipment, materials, and training, all backed by decades of hands-on expertise.

• ✈️ 25+ Years of Expertise – Specialists in coating technologies trusted by aerospace, medical, defence, automotive, and electronics industries worldwide.
• 🛠️ End-to-End Support – Guidance on coating selection, masking strategies, application methods, inspection, and process validation.
• 📈 Scalable Solutions – From small prototype batches to full-scale, high-volume production.
• 🌍 Global Reach – Responsive technical support and supply coverage across Europe, North America, and Asia.
• ✅ Proven Reliability – Built on quality, consistency, and long-term customer partnerships.

📞 Call: +44 (0)1226 249019
✉ Email: sales@schservices.com
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Note: This article provides general technical guidance only. Final design, safety, and compliance decisions must be verified by the product manufacturer and validated against the applicable standards.