Mechatronic curtain for a process chamber for carrying out thermal processes in the manufacture of electronic assemblies

An electronic assembly process chamber comprising:

• a process chamber;
• an opening in said process chamber having a width dimension and a length dimension, the width dimension and the length dimension configured to allowing an electronic assembly having components to pass through said opening;
• a movable element comprising an integral piece selectively positioned to cover said opening, the movable element having an edge capable of being positioned to a location within the width dimension of said opening and extend alone the length dimension of said opening;
• an actuating device coupled to said movable element, said actuating device capable of moving the edge of said movable element to the location;
• a topography measuring device, said topography measuring device capable of measuring a topography of the electronic assembly;
• and
• a controller coupled to said actuating device, said controller receiving data from said topography measuring device of the topography of the electronic assembly and controlling positioning of the edge of said movable element to a selected location adjacent the electronic assembly based on the data of the topography of the electronic assembly,
• whereby loss of a protective gas within said process chamber is reduced.