Centurion-based Mecalc has selected Mek’s (Marantz Business Electronics) PowerSpector FDAz to enhance its inspection capabilities.
Mecalc is an engineering design house which designs, develops and manufactures advanced acquisition and control systems to optimise noise, vibration and structural integrity in prototype or quality control testing. Distributed through Müller-BBM VibroAkustik Systems, the company’s PAK MKII hardware ranks amongst the best front-ends in the world for markets like automotive and aerospace.
Established in 1989, Mecalc comprises a team of 75 electronic, mechanical and computer engineers together with mechanical production, electronic production, testing and support staff. As almost all production processes are handled internally, fast turnaround between volume production and any necessary prototyping jobs is vital.
The company’s state-of-the-art electronics manufacturing facility, with its highly sophisticated production line, is able to accommodate a wide range of components down to the smallest chip scale packages. The need for continuously high quality, especially in view of the compact nature and high density of its boards, is met by the combination of the company’s new PowerSpector AOI system and an X-ray machine.
PowerSpector FDAz reliably inspects SMT and THT component bodies for presence/absence, type, polarity, offset, text, colours etc. and component solder fillets for excessive or insufficient solder, no solder, shorts or lifted leads. With its high-resolution top camera with telecentric lens and unique multiplexed 8x CameraLink side camera technology with shift tilt lenses in 45/45 orientation, defect visibility is greatly enhanced.
According to Angelique Smit, head of production quality at Mecalc, the decision to make this investment was not taken lightly or without doing real-world comparisons: “We have evaluated multiple AOI equipment suppliers; the Mek PowerSpector FDAz came out on top in its ability to meet our specific technology and support requirements,” she explains.
“Overall system speed, ease of programming and great solder joint, component body, text and colour inspection were influencing factors. The adjustable Z-axis for the inspection of tall components and the angular cameras for double-checking known problem areas were also considerations.
“Quality is always our main priority and reliable inspection is hence vital. Mek AOI and the Mek Catch software provides us with the necessary process monitoring and quality control required. We had an iSpector before purchasing the PowerSpector FDAz. Our familiarity with the programming contributed to our decision to purchase the FDAz.
“The FDAz replaced the iSpector and was up and running within a week. Our programming time improved significantly, primarily thanks to the advanced training from the Mek team who helped us to optimise programming time and the way we work. And if there is anything we are unsure about we turn to the Mek technical forum and iMentor which have proven to be invaluable.”
For more information contact Zetech, +27 (0)11 789 3230, [email protected] , www.zetech.co.za
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