DeltaFlo Series
DeltaFlo low-nitrogen convection reflow ovens
What is the DeltaFlo reflow oven?
DeltaFlo is Research International's large-board reflow oven, built for high-volume SMT assembly of boards with large components and significant mass differential. It uses fan-forced convection across multiple vertical heat zones, with closed-loop nitrogen control and no-clean process zones, to hold a narrow temperature spread across a big, uneven board.
Built for large, high-mass boards
The hard problem in reflowing a large board is mass differential: a heavy connector or shield sitting next to a tiny passive. The big part lags in temperature while the small part races ahead, and a single profile has to bring both safely above the solder melting point without overheating the light components or starving the heavy ones. DeltaFlo was designed specifically for that case, the high-volume assembly of large boards where the spread between the hottest and coldest point on the board, the delta T, has to stay narrow.
It does that with fan-forced convection across multiple vertical heat zones. Active gas circulation drives heat into shadowed and high-mass areas that radiant heating alone would underserve, and independent zone control lets the profile be shaped in stages so the soak section can equalize the board before the reflow spike.
Low nitrogen consumption
Running reflow under nitrogen improves wetting and cuts flux residue, but nitrogen is a consumable, and on a wide tunnel oven it can become a meaningful operating cost. DeltaFlo was engineered for low nitrogen use through closed-loop nitrogen control, holding the target atmosphere in the process zones while limiting how much gas the oven consumes per hour.
Paired with no-clean process zones that are designed to keep flux from building up inside the tunnel, the goal was a clean, repeatable atmosphere that does not force frequent teardown and cleaning, which is where production hours quietly disappear on a busy line.
Tall components and adjustable cavity
Large boards often carry tall components, and an oven cavity sized for low-profile work will not clear them. The DeltaFlo design allowed for adjustable heater cavity height so the oven could accommodate boards with tall parts without sacrificing the convection performance that makes the profile even in the first place. Combined with the multi-zone layout, that flexibility is what let one oven cover a range of board types rather than being locked to a single product.
What to look for
Key points
- Confirm the zone count. DeltaFlo used multiple vertical heat zones with fan-forced convection; more zones give finer control of a high-mass profile.
- Check nitrogen control. Closed-loop control is what keeps nitrogen consumption low while holding the process atmosphere.
- Measure your tallest component. Adjustable heater cavity height is the spec that decides whether tall parts clear the tunnel.
- Define your delta T target. The whole point of DeltaFlo is a narrow temperature spread across a large board; know the number you need.
- Plan no-clean compatibility. The no-clean process zones reduce flux build-up; confirm your paste chemistry matches.
Resources
Datasheets, parts, and service
Each slot below is reserved for a vetted datasheet archive, parts supplier, or service partner. We are adding them as we verify them; nothing here is a paid placement, and this site does not sell ovens or parts directly.
Link to the DeltaFlo specification sheet (DeltaFlo 10LN and variants).
Reserved for a supplier of DeltaFlo fans, heaters, and controller boards.
Reserved for a thermal-profiling or commissioning service partner.
Questions