Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Current

Press Releases

JENA, GERMANY – Inspection and quality assurance, test and programming, from SMD to THT: GÖPEL electronic is the only supplier worldwide to present the full range of inspection solutions as well as embedded JTAG solutions.

From 14 to 17 November, innovative technologies in the field of inspection solutions and embedded JTAG solutions will be presented at booth A2.239.

This year's showpiece is the FlashFOX - an innovative production programmer for embedded in- system programming (ISP). With outstanding features, it offers a new level of performance, flexibility and speed. Its high connectivity in combination with new licensing mechanisms opens up new and cost-efficient application scenarios for users. Its scalability, adaptability and first-class performance parameters make it a highly effective, next generation production programmer. With this veritable firework of innovations, GÖPEL electronic has, of course, applied for the productronica innovation award with the FlashFOX.

The new generation of the inspection module MultiEyeS plus for THT assembly will also attract the attention of the audience. This smart system monitors the presence of THT components, positions, colours, 2D codes and texts in real time. Thanks to the latest image and lighting technologies, impressive image quality is achieved so that errors are reliably detected and can be corrected immediately. Optionally, the system offers user-guided assistance during placement by projecting information into the operator's field of view through the integration of a powerful laser projector. In addition, this technology also makes the faults detected by the AOI during placement visible directly on the PCB. This inspection module for assembly stations thus takes a further step in industrial image processing and offers the possibility of further optimising manufacturing processes.

In its claim to offer customers innovative and resource-saving inspection solutions, GÖPEL electronic relies on powerful features. With proven methods and groundbreaking technologies, the focus is always on both efficiency for the user and quality for their products.

Adaptable 360° projections guarantee a 3D measurement without shadowing, which allows a deep view even into narrow component canyons. The user also maintains an overview and full process control through central verification of inspection results with PILOT Supervisor and AI-supported classification with AI advisor.

With this impressive functionality, GÖPEL electronic is taking a decisive step towards the future of autonomous inspection with regard to inspection programme creation and defect classification. The use of digital twins, both of the PCB or Board to be produced and of the AOI system itself, also has a supporting effect here. The aim is to have a test programme as close to ready to use as possible before the first PCB or Board is produced.

Another feature of PILOT AOI version 7 should be of interest to small and medium-sized production service providers: if layout data is missing, the AOI programme can now be created on the basis of a bareboard, making the award-winning MagicClick function available to the user even without Gerber data.

The latest version 4.9.0 of the SYSTEM CASCON system software includes a multitude of innovations for embedded test and programming. From the configurable Production Inspector to the faster execution of JAM/STAPL files on SFX II controllers to the visualisation tool ViPX at IC level - this version promises greater speed and user-friendliness.

The excellent all-in-one solution BARCUDA VP230 is also part of the trade fair presentation. Without the time-consuming configuration of a special in-house test system, it enables flexible testing and programming of electronic PCB or Boards with and without JTAG/Boundary Scan.

MINNEAPOLIS – Nortech Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: NSYS) (the "Company"), a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical and electromechanical products, is proud to announce that its Suzhou, China facility has been certified by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, formerly known as CFDA) to produce Class II Medical Devices for customers in Asia. This certification marks a major milestone for Nortech Systems and its customers in the region.

"NMPA certification is a major step forward for Nortech Systems and our customers in the region," said Nortech Systems CEO, Jay D. Miller. "This certification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in Suzhou and will enable us to better serve our customers in the Chinese and Asia markets. We are excited to be able to offer our customers in China and the rest of Asia the same high-quality products and services that we offer our customers in other parts of the world," said Miller.

The certification process was rigorous and included a comprehensive review of Nortech Systems’ quality management system, supply chain management, manufacturing processes, and product design. The certification also ensures that Nortech Systems’ products meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy.

The certification from the NMPA allows Nortech Systems to produce Class II Medical Devices for customers in China and Asia. The company has been a leading producer of Class II Medical Devices for the United States market in its FDA-registered facility located in Milaca, Minnesota. Class II Medical Devices are products that are intended to be used for medical purposes and are subject to more stringent regulations than other products.

Nortech Systems Suzhou facility is a state-of-the-art facility that is equipped with the latest technology and equipment. The facility is ISO 13485 certified and has a team of highly trained and experienced engineers and technicians.

"We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services," said Nortech Systems Vice President of Operations for Asia Pacific, Feng Cao. "This certification from the NMPA is a testament to our commitment. There are presently very few companies in Suzhou that have been able to meet the rigorous requirements to achieve this certification."

Nortech Systems is a leading provider of design, engineering, and manufacturing services for the medical, industrial, and aerospace markets. The company has a global presence with facilities in the United States, Mexico, and China.

TORRANCE, CA – Seika Machinery, Inc., a leading provider of advanced machinery, materials and engineering services, is pleased to announce its participation in the SMTA International conference with two enlightening technical presentations. The first presentation will take place on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. CDT during Session MD2: Hidden Challenges of Complex Assemblies. The second presentation will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 at 11 a.m. CDT during Session MFX2: Product Assembly Challenges.

Presentation 1: The Importance of Having a Clean Slate in the SMT Assembly Process for High- Density and Fine-Pitch Applications
Presenters: Charlie Fujikawa, Senior Sales Engineer, and Michelle Ogihara, VP of Sales, Seika Machinery, Inc.

In an ever-evolving SMT industry marked by miniaturization and globalization, the manufacturing process faces unique challenges. Amidst various improvements in SMT manufacturing, one critical aspect often overlooked is the cleanliness of the PCB surface. Even minute debris or contaminants can disrupt the soldering process, leading to voids and defects. To address this concern, Seika Machinery advocates the importance of starting the assembly process with a pristine PCB surface.

The presentation will feature an experiment and evaluation conducted by a renowned Japanese automotive electronics manufacturer. They sought to enhance their PCB assembly process by introducing a bare board cleaner before the paste printer. The evaluation will outline the conditions before and after implementing the cleaning system, shedding light on the impact of a clean PCB surface on the defect ratio. The presentation aims to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of utilizing a bare PCB surface cleaner as a crucial step in process control.

Presentation 2: Modern Methods of PCB Depanelization and Considerations for Improved Reliability
Presenters: Max Bernard and Michelle Ogihara, Seika Machinery, Inc.

As electronic circuit assemblies become smaller and more densely populated, manufacturers increasingly opt to produce multiple assemblies on a larger panel and later separate them through depanelization. However, this critical process is often underestimated, and improper depaneling can damage delicate components, solder masks, and even the PCB substrate. Seika Machinery addresses the complexities of depanelization, which introduces mechanical stress, dust, debris, and design restrictions into the manufacturing process.

The presentation delves into various depanelization methods, including V-scoring, die cutting, hand breaking, pizza cutters, laser depaneling, and PCB routers. Each method's technical aspects, such as speed, accuracy, and impact on the PCB and components, will be discussed, along with design considerations and associated costs. The presentation will also showcase the latest trends and technologies in PCB depanelization and provide guidance for selecting the most suitable method for specific applications.

For more information, contact Michelle Ogihara at 310-540-7310; e-mail michelle@seikausa.com; or visit www.seikausa.com

CRANSTON, RI – AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Josh Zhou to Regional Sales Manager for AIM Solder China.

Josh has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and brings several years of sales experience in the electronics and automotive industries to this position. He will work to further grow AIM’s business in East China, with a special focus on the automotive industry cultivating new and existing relationships with our valued customers in the region.

"Josh's impressive track record and dedication to customer satisfaction make him a fantastic addition to our team. With his expertise, we are poised for even greater success in the Chinese market. We look forward to witnessing his contributions as we continue to strengthen our presence in East China," said Dean Luo, AIM Solder National Sales Manager in China.

Josh Zhou's appointment reflects AIM Solder's commitment to delivering exceptional service and products to its customers while fostering growth and innovation within the electronics and automotive sectors.

Josh can be reached at jzhou@aimsolder.com

NEUSS, GERMANY – Although surface-mount assembly involves great precision and reliability, things can go wrong when operating continuously at high speed. In the event of errors and exceptions, the team in charge of production needs to restore full-speed operation as quickly as possible.

Whenever the line is stopped, the business incurs costs that detract from profitability. These costs include not only the direct cost of lost production but also labour costs while the line is stopped, the cost of overtime and rush orders to catch up after the line is restored, and the cost of any rework or items scrapped due to the problem that caused the stoppage. There are costs associate with inventory waiting and the disruption to the normal flow of operations can cause inefficiencies. Moreover, there can be impact on customer commitments that can result in financial penalties.

On the other hand, it can be important to stop the line, if a problem is detected, to prevent production of defective units from continuing. The operator or production supervisor needs to know as quickly as possible in the event of an error. Line stoppages are undesirable and manufacturers need to ensure this happens as infrequently as possible to ensure best productivity and minimise unwanted costs. When stopping cannot be avoided, production needs to be restored as quickly as possible.

Tools for Troubleshooting

Today’s assembly equipment is loaded with sensors to detect issues such as blocked nozzles or pickup misalignment. Automatic inspection can be performed at multiple points in the line, including after screen printing, component placement, and reflow, using the results to assist troubleshooting in real time.

Manufacturers rely on software tools to help manage production equipment, detect any exceptions and defects, and provide information to production supervisors. These include dashboard applications that provide an instant appraisal of equipment and production status. There are also value-added tools such as Yamaha’s QA Options and the closely related Mobile Judgement app. Mobile Judgement can send details of any detected defects, including inspection images, directly to the supervisor’s smartphone to help assess the severity of the problem. Based on personal judgement, the supervisor can instruct the line to stop immediately if necessary until the issue can be solved.

The Human-Machine Interface

These types of applications represent the place where machines and humans interact to solve the problems that inevitably arise during the normal course of a shift. The team in charge must apply their skills to deliver the required quantity of each batch and ensure that production runs to schedule.

This approach can be dependent on the quality of the tools provided to visualise the data captured from the various locations throughout the line. Identifying the causes of faults and applying a fix, quickly, also depends on the skills and knowledge of the supervisor staff-members present in the factory. If the company’s top supervisor is not on duty for any reason– maybe they are working another shift, on vacation, perhaps on sick leave – productivity could be impaired.

The latest advancements in data science can help to eliminate dependence on individual judgement by automatically identifying the causes of any defects or other production problems. Guiding operators directly to these causes permits more consistent production performance. As an example of this emerging generation of software tools, the latest Yamaha YSUP Analytics Dashboard contains advanced tools that use statistical techniques to identify most likely causes of detected defects. It also recommends suitable corrective actions. The analytics tools work in addition to graphical tools that help visualise the performance of equipment in the production line.

The new YSUP Analytics Dashboard presents information in an easy-to-read format that can be interpreted at a glance. Ultimately, this enables every working shift to deliver consistently high production throughput and end-of-line yield, and drastically reduces stoppage time.

Based on a relational database with built-in querying capabilities that analyse data in-situ, the software identifies probable causes of recorded exceptions in near real- time using statistical techniques. The automatic analysis capabilities of the new dashboard application enable any authorised user to extract the information they need, analyse errors, and view corrective actions at any time. The tools available include automatic pickup error analysis, which uses analytical methods including flow judgement, error-code diagnostics, health-check data diagnostics, and image-recognition diagnostics. The user can view the time and circumstances of any pickup errors, see the exact location, and view corrective actions. Yamaha has verified the accuracy of automatic pickup error analysis using this tool in experiments performed with a lead customer, a major automotive tier-1 manufacturer. There are also built-in capabilities that assist root- cause detection, including management of automatic judgement results and countermeasure content tracing.

The power of the underlying platform provides scope to add further analytics tools, such as placement analysis and print analysis. Moreover, the platform is open to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in future distributions, which will provide additional analytics capabilities and further accelerate problem solving directly on production lines.

Conclusion

Automation has enabled electronic manufacturers to remove human limitations from many activities on production lines. However, intervention has remained necessary where judgement must be applied and assistance is needed to handle exceptional circumstances and restore correct operation. The latest data-driven dashboard tools provide extra assistance to identify and fix the causes of errors, to help overcome the limitations of operators’ knowledge and shorten the time to restore operation, ultimately enabling further improvement of productivity.

NEW DELHI, INDIA – Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA) at its 55th annual general meeting held on September 29, 2023 elected Atul Lall as the president for the year 2023-24.

Atul B Lall, a professional as well as an entrepreneur for 25 years in the EMS industry. Lall has been associated with Dixon Technologies since inception and is responsible for overall business operations. Additionally, he holds a master degree in management studies from the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani.

Lall has served as a member of the Technical Evaluation Committee for Electronic Manufacturing Services under M-SIPS (Electronic Manufacturing Services- EMS) constituted by the MeitY and served as a representative of ELCINA on the Committee for Reliability of Electronic and Electrical Components and Equipment (LITD. 02) of the BIS. He has also authored the book, ‘Gita and India Inc.’

He brings his experience and in-depth knowledge about the electronics manufacturing sector and its supply chain which will immensely help the industry and enable ELCINA to contribute to the ESDM ecosystem.

Furthermore, the other eminent ELCINA office bearers elected for the year 2023-24 include Sasikumar Gendham, MD, Salcomp Manufacturing India as senior vice president; Richard Puthota, director, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions as vice president; Rajiv Venkatraman, MD, PEC Manufacturing as secretary; Varun Manwani, director, Sahasra Group and CEO, Sahasra Semiconductors as treasurer.