Automated stencil printer

1 October 2008 Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services

Essemtec has introduced SP200-AV2, a new model of its automated stencil printer SP200. The printer is an enhanced version of the previous generation system and offers increased robustness, precision and ease of use.

The new feature of the improved SP200-AV2 is Trans-Stencil-Vision which allows for fast setup and changeover procedures as well as high accuracy. Additionally, there is a theft-proof laptop mounted in the new model instead of the typical industrial PC, to help reduce the weight and to provide an additional safety feature. The new system software now runs under Windows XP and, therefore, can be integrated easily into any company-wide system.

The upper part of the machine frame, which contains vision cameras, the print head and the stencil-frame guide, has been designed for more robustness and with increased operator comfort. Until now, the squeegee had to be removed for a stencil change; with the new printer this is no longer necessary.

The vision cameras are mounted in such a way that they can look directly through the stencil apertures down to the PCB. The software of the vision system is able to differentiate between pad and substrate geometries and automatically adjusts the PCB accordingly. The Trans-Stencil-Vision feature is said to provide higher levels of speed, accuracy and reliability than other printers with a PCB shuttle mechanism, due to the direct PCB adjustment in the final position and immediate printing readiness without any further PCB movements.

The vision system features new cameras with higher resolution and integrated LED-based lighting, allowing it to operate more precisely and faster than in the SP200. The cameras are now mounted using quick fix, spring-operated clamps. Integrated rulers help to easily memorise the individual camera position; therefore, the time needed for setup or changeover is reduced significantly.

The newly designed print head comes standard with a continually operating squeegee-pressure control, similar to the SP200. This ensures constant contact pressure over the entire print movement and, for example, automatically accommodates for small steps at the PCB edges. Metal and synthetic squeegee blades can be used, and the printing movement is programmable for forward and backward actions.

The SP200-AV2 can be operated in highly flexible SMT assembly environments. The PCB handler is a true ergonomic solution due to the sideward moving loading drawer. The machine controls the entire printing cycle from adjustment to the parallel separation of stencil and PCB after the print stroke is finished.

The system offers a 23” stencil frame system with a print area of 360 x 400 mm free of any licence fees.

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