2005 Articles

In-transit component alignment, plus 3-sigma accuracy.

The SM Series assemblers, part of Samsung Techwin’s multifunctional assembly systems, expand production capability while reducing operating costs, leading to greater life-cycle efficiency for production facilities. The first, SM320, is designed to achieve placement rates up to 18,500 cph with ±50 µm (3 sigma) accuracy and up to 5,500 cph (based on IPC-9850) at ±30 µm (3 sigma) for QFPs and BGAs. Its component handling range is 01005 through 55 mm². The system uses a robust frame and gantry system, featuring a twin-servo motor design, to provide the necessary stability to achieve accurate placements at increased speeds.

The SM series handles 01005 through 55 mm2 components and has change-on-the-fly feeders.

SM320 augments the twin-servo capability with Advanced Flying Vision, a true on-the-fly alignment and centering system. The vision system aligns components in transit from the feeder to the board, eliminating an intermediate stop at a fixed vision system. At the same time, the system identifies the leads of the component to ensure accurate placement. This reduces the risk of missing, bent or damaged leads, which go undetected when aligning solely on the body of the device.

A high-speed, dual gantry version of the series, SM310, is currently in production in facilities in Asia.

Automatic mapping enables these assembly systems to respond quickly to changes in the working environment, allowing board assemblers to gain more production and maintain high levels of quality.

Decreasing the potential for error in the placement stage of production reduces the need for self-centering components during reflow. Minimizing the potential for rework reduces the number of high-temperature cycles to boards and components.

Additional configurations of the series are available to handle odd-form components and advanced packaging devices. All SM Series systems share operating software, feeders and accessories.

Introduced with the SM Series, the new one-touch SM feeder is a slim-format tape feeder designed to handle industry-standard EIA-481 tape sizes. A one-touch clamping feature allows users to replace tape feeders during operations to maximize productivity, while the system’s endless-discharge method for nonstop operation provides efficiency, reliability and repeatability of component pickups. An end-of-reel detector alerts operators before the feeder depletes its inventory, allowing replenishment without interrupting production. Operators can choose to splice a new reel of components to the existing feeder or replace the feeder with a preloaded replacement during operation.

For real-time monitoring of component inventory, the optional SM Series Intelligent IQ feeder monitors component usage from stockroom to final product. The tracking starts in the stockroom, where lot tracking and component information are entered in a common database and printed on bar code labels, which are placed on each supply reel. That information is linked to the smart feeder before the reel is installed on the SM Series assembly system. The software recognizes the feeder with its associated inventory count, component value and location in the feeder base. The system then uses cycle counts to track inventory usage by feeder to provide product tractability. The cycle counts can be used to schedule feeder maintenance, minimizing downtime for routine maintenance.

Multiple SM Series assembly systems can be networked through Windows XP Pro to help reduce changeover time. Placement routines can be built on any Windows-based computer on a facility’s network and transferred to a designated machine or machines in the network during setup.

Built-in Optimizer software ensures high-efficiency machine operation by automatically optimizing the placement sequence. Optional EasyOLP line-balancing software increases overall line productivity by balancing feeders across multiple assembly systems while optimizing placement routines.

Other options for the series include docking feeder carts that minimize changeover time with offline loading, automatic tape cutter, tube and tray feeding systems and feeder storage rack.

Mike Foster is director of sales, Dynatech Technology Inc., (dynatechsmt.com); mike.foster@dynatechsmt.com.