RF4 RF-FT03 Three-Axis Universal PCB Fixture

Universal PCB Fixture Built for Board-Level and Chip-Level Rework
The RF4 RF-FT03 is a universal PCB fixture with one job: hold a logic board or a loose chip dead still while you work. Three independent clamp axes lock boards up to 70mm long, along with CPUs and ICs of irregular shape. A honeycomb heat-dissipation base sits under the workpiece and handles direct hot air during rework. You get a fixed reference point for every heat, glue, and solder operation on your repair bench. No sliding board. No tweezers holding a chip at an angle. Just a locked workpiece and both hands free.
Three-Axis Clamping Geometry
Standard two-jaw holders grip along one line. The RF-FT03 adds a third clamp axis, so you lock the board from multiple sides at once. This matters on special-shaped motherboards with cut-outs, curved edges, or offset connectors, where a two-jaw grip slips the moment you apply flux and heat. The jaws move in both directions. You centre the board in place instead of lifting and re-seating it, which protects shields and fragile flex connectors. The 70mm length limit suits phone board sections and the separated halves of stacked boards. For full-length tablet or laptop boards, step up to a larger multi-board holder from our PCB Holders range.
Chip-Level Holding for CPU and IC Work
The same clamp geometry grips a loose chip. After you lift a CPU from a dead phone, you need it flat and fixed for underfill scraping, pad cleaning, and reballing. The RF-FT03 holds the package by its edges and leaves the pad side fully exposed. The fixture grips the package outline, not the pinout, so chipset vendor makes no difference. Qualcomm, MediaTek, Apple, and Exynos packages all clamp the same way, as long as the outline fits the jaws. Memory chips, PMICs, and charging ICs follow the same process when you plan an IC change karna job and need to prep the removed part before it goes back down. Pair it with a stencil from our Reballing Kits category for a clean, repeatable reball.
Running the Universal PCB Fixture Under Hot Air
Heat control decides whether a rework job ends in a repair or a second hardware fault. The honeycomb base gives heat an escape path through open cells instead of trapping it under the board. That reduces heat build-up around neighbouring components while you work on a single chip. The high-temperature resistant build keeps the clamp stable under a Hot Air Station nozzle, so the board does not shift mid-reflow. Keep your nozzle moving and preheat large ground planes, as you would on any universal PCB fixture. The fixture holds position; your technique controls the thermal profile. For fine joints, a Soldering Station handles drag soldering and jumper lagana work on the same clamped board.
Where It Sits in Your Repair Workflow
The RF-FT03 enters after diagnosis and stays through reassembly. You trace a charging issue, network issue, or short on the board with a multimeter and confirm the faulty section. You then clamp the board, lift the chip, and transfer the chip itself back into the same motherboard repair fixture for glue removal and reballing. Under a microscope, the locked position keeps your view steady at high magnification, which shortens pad inspection time. Once the chip goes back on, the same clamp holds the board for joint inspection and power-on testing. One fixture covers every step where the workpiece must not move. That is the role a CPU chip holder plays on a professional bench, and the RF-FT03 combines it with full board holding in a single tool.