SMD placement machine for small and mid-sized production

13 May 2009 Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services

The Pantera–XV SMD placement machine from Essemtec directly addresses prototyping and production runs in mid-sized quantities.

The system provides high placement accuracy and speed, a broad application range, high reliability and low maintenance costs, as well as very short changeover times and excellent cost-performance ratio.

The placement machine handles the entire SMD range from 0201s to 50 x 50 mm QFPs with a fine pitch of 0,4 mm. Designed for the assembly of complex printed boards and fast changeover, the machine offers a large number of feeder slots (up to 108) in a small footprint of less than 1 square metre. All intelligent tape and stick feeders will be recognised automatically, regardless of the feeder slot being used, providing for a fast and error-free changeover process. The tape feeders are motorised and the transport speed is programmable. Also, 0201 chips can be reliably placed at a placement speed rated up to 4500 components per hour.

A further highlight of the system is increased precision, provided by the application of more accurate measuring systems. The resolution of the magnetic linear measuring system is 1 micron; the mechanism is not prone to dirt particles and dust and, therefore, provides high reliability and accuracy. For alignment, an integrated laser system measures small ICs and chip components ‘on the fly,’ and a bottom-up vision system is used for fine-pitch ICs or BGAs. Additionally, another vision system is installed for the automated correction of PCB positions as well as for the teach-in of component locations.

The Pantera–XV can be customised to match the assembly task by a multitude of options. One example is the optional dispensing system for solder paste and adhesive that reduces the cost for stencils in prototyping and also allows for higher flexibility. A further example of the optional flexibility is the exchange of the universal standard magnetic PCB holder system.

The graphic-based software concept supports easy machine operation so that usage and programming can be quickly learned. The programming interface allows for CAD data of layout software to be directly converted in an appropriate assembly program. In the case that such a data set is not available, the components can be placed manually (ie, virtually) by means of an integrated camera.

The SMD placement machine is designed for the flexible assembly of small and mid-sized production volumes. With its solid construction and high reliability, the equipment can also be used efficiently for larger production quantities.

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