MINIATURE/MICROMINIATURE (2M) REPAIR PROGRAM AND HIGH-RELIABILITY

SOLDERING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this topic, the student will be able to:

• State the purpose and need for training and certification of 2M repair technicians.
• Explain the maintenance levels at which maintenance is performed.
• Identify the specialized and general test equipment used in fault isolation.
• Recognize the specialized types of tools used and the importance of repair facilities.
• Explain the principles of high-reliability soldering.

INTRODUCTION

As mentioned in topic 1, advances in the field of microelectronics are impressive. With every step forward in production development, a corresponding step forward must be made in maintenance and repair techniques.

This topic will teach you how the Navy is coping with the new technology and how personnel are trained to carry out the maintenance and repair of complex equipment. The program discussed in this topic is up to date at this time, but as industry advances, so must the capabilities of the technician.

MINIATURE AND MICROMINIATURE (2M) ELECTRONIC REPAIR PROGRAM

Training requirements for miniature and microminiature repair personnel were developed under guidelines established by the Chief of Naval Operations. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) developed a program which provides for the proper training in miniature and microminiature repair. This program, NAVSEA Miniature/Microminiature (2M) Electronic Repair, authorizes and provides proper tools and equipment and establishes a personnel certification program to maintain quality repair.

The Naval Air Systems Command has developed a similar program specifically for the aviation community. The two programs are patterned after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) high-reliability soldering studies and have few differences other than the administrative chain of command. For purposes of this topic, we will use the NAVSEA manual for reference.

The 2M program covers all phases of miniature and microminiature repair. It establishes the training curriculum for repair personnel, outlines standards of workmanship, and provides guidelines for specific repairs to equipment, including the types of tools to use. This part of the program ensures high-reliability repairs by qualified technicians.

Upon satisfactory completion of a 2M training course, a technician will be CERTIFIED to perform repairs. The CERTIFICATION is issued at the level at which the technician qualifies and specifies what type of repairs the technician is permitted to perform. The two levels of qualification for technicians are MINIATURE COMPONENT REPAIR and MICROMINIATURE COMPONENT REPAIR. Miniature component repair is limited to discrete components and single- and double-sided printed circuit boards, including removal and installation of most integrated circuit devices. Microminiature component repair consists of repairs to highly complex, densely packaged, multilayer printed circuit boards. Sophisticated repair equipment is used that may include a binocular microscope.

To ensure that a technician is maintaining the required qualification level, periodic evaluations are conducted. By inspecting and evaluating the technician's work, certification teams ensure that the minimum standards for the technician's level of qualification are met. If the standards are met, the technician is recertified; if not, the certification is withheld pending retraining and requalification. This portion of the program ensures the high-quality, high-reliability repairs needed to meet operational requirements.

Q.1 Training requirements for (2M) repair personnel were developed under guidelines established by what organization?
Q.2 What agencies provide training, tools, equipment, and certification of the 2M system?
Q.3 To perform microminiature component repair, a 2M technician must be currently certified in what area?
Q.4 Multilayer printed circuit board repair is the responsibility of what 2M repair technician?

LEVELS OF MAINTENANCE

Effective maintenance and repair of microelectronic devices require one of three levels of maintenance. Level-of-repair designations called SOURCE, MAINTENANCE, and RECOVERABILITY CODES (SM&R) have been developed and are assigned by the Chief of Naval Material. These codes are D for DEPOT LEVEL, I for INTERMEDIATE LEVEL, and O for ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL.

DEPOT-LEVEL MAINTENANCE.

SM&R Code D maintenance is the responsibility of maintenance activities designated by the systems command (NAVSEA, NAVAIR, NAVELEX). This code augments stocks of serviceable material. It also supports codes I and O activities by providing more extensive shop facilities and equipment and more highly skilled technicians. Code D maintenance includes repair, modification, alteration, modernization, and overhaul as well as reclamation or reconstruction of parts, assemblies, subassemblies, and components. Finally, it includes emergency manufacture of nonavailable parts. Code D maintenance also provides technical assistance to user activities and to code I maintenance organizations. Code D maintenance is performed in shops, located in shipyards and shore-based facilities, including contractor maintenance organizations.

INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL MAINTENANCE

SM&R code I maintenance, performed at mobile shops, tenders or shore-based repair facilities (SIMAS) provides direct support to user organizations. Code I maintenance includes calibration, repair, or replacement of damaged or unserviceable parts, components, or assemblies, and emergency manufacture of nonavailable parts. It also provides technical assistance to ships and stations.

ORGANIZATIONAL-LEVEL MAINTENANCE

SM&R code O maintenance is the responsibility of the activity who owns the equipment. Code O maintenance consists of inspecting, servicing, lubricating, adjusting, and replacing parts, minor assemblies, and subassemblies.

An INTEGRATED LOGISTICS SUPPORT PLAN (ILSP) determines the maintenance level for electronic assemblies, modules, and boards for each equipment assigned to an activity. The ILSP codes the items according to the normal maintenance capabilities of that activity. This results in two additional repair-level categories - NORMAL and EMERGENCY.

Normal Repairs

Generally, 2M repairs are performed at the level set forth in the maintenance plan and specified by the appropriate SM&R coding for each board or module. Therefore, normal repairs include all repairs except organizational-level repair of D- and I-coded items and intermediate-level repair of D-coded items.

Emergent/Emergency Repairs

In the NAVSEA 2M Electronic Repair Program, emergent/emergency repairs are those arising unexpectedly. They may require prompt repair action to restore a system or piece of equipment to operating condition where normal repairs are not authorized. These Code O repairs on boards or modules are normally SM&R-coded for Code D repairs. Emergent/emergency 2M repairs may be performed only to meet an urgent operational commitment as directed by the operational commander.

SOURCE, MAINTENANCE, AND RECOVERABILITY (SM&R) CODES

The Allowance Parts List (APL) is a technical document prepared by the Navy for specific equipment/system support. This document lists the repair parts requirements for a ship having the exact equipment/component. To determine the availability of repair parts, the 2M technician must be familiar with these documents. SM&R codes, found in APLs, determine where repair parts can be obtained, who is authorized to make the repair, and at what maintenance level the item may be recovered or condemned.

Q.5 What are the three levels of maintenance?
Q.6 Maintenance performed by the user activity is what maintenance level?