MatriX Technologies is a new company specialising in x-ray inspection systems. The company focuses on the electronics and automotive industries, e.g. specialised applications for assembly production and the inspection of airbag components. It will introduce its automatic x-ray inspection platform at Productronica. Prior to founding MatriX Technologies, Eckhard Sperschneider was the managing director of Macrotron Process Technology for over eight years. Before that he led the division Inspection & PCB Production Systems at the pan-European distributor Macrotron Systems (now MSE). "In recent years, major progress has been made in the area of inspection performance for AOI systems. However, in the case of automatic x-ray inspection there has been little innovation since the year 2000. In particular, assembly manufacturing users, who often have to guarantee 100% solder joint inspection, have been waiting for a technology leap. Compared to AOI testing, real-time x-ray technology – e.g. for covered solder joints – has clear advantages that enable superior test coverage. MatriX Technologies' high-speed AXI line represents a new benchmark. Our goal is to significantly improve test efficiency through the consistent application of new technologies on double-sided PCB assemblies and, above all, to eliminate time-consuming application programming,” said Sperschneider. MatriX Technologies will soon open an office in the U.S.. MatriX Technologies, m-xt.com Booth A1, 339
BP Microsystems announces the availability of ISP-PRO socket module to program devices in-circuit.
The programmer can be connected to the board via a cable interface using the production-ready ISP-PRO socket module.
After programming the device in-circuit, users can verify the functionality of the device to determine if it works correctly in the end application. If the user encounters problems with the device, then the board can be programmed on the programmer. This allows the flexibility to rerun or rework boards as needed.
WBC series of wire bondable chip resistors feature self-passivating tantalum nitride thin film technology on silicon substrates.
According to Dr. Debasis Roy, director of IRC Advanced Film Division’s Thin Film Business Unit, the resistors have an unmatched resistance range. “We have extended the resistance values for these resistors to range from 10 to 400KW. The extended range allows for better surge protection in higher power applications, such as hybrid circuits.”
Absolute tolerance ranges are down to ±0.1%, with absolute TCRs to ±25ppm/°C.
The resistor film provides stability over time and temperature, for increased power dissipation.
The chip resistors are available in 0202 and 0303 chip sizes. The 0303 center-tapped chips can be used in feedback circuits of amplifiers.
TT electronics IRC Advanced Film Division, irctt.com
An alternative to liquid epoxy for high-volume epoxy sealing applications, Uni-form epoxy preforms are one-part epoxy resins that are solid at room temperature. When heated, they melt and cure, forming a consistent seal that protects components from dust, moisture, oil, flux, solvents, conformal coatings, and other contaminants.
Close tolerances on preform configurations, consistent pre-mixed ratios of resin to catalyst, and consistent viscosity from beginning to end of batch ensure uniform results.
Can be dispensed as rapidly as 200 to 600 parts/min. with little or no operator training; extensive operator experience is not required for uniform results. Said to eliminate pot-life concerns and costly cleanup procedures. Available in a range of shapes, sizes and materials.
Servo-Flo 505 Fixed-Ratio Meter System is for automated, robotic or manual dispensing applications. This single-servomotor dispensing system allows fixed and variable dispense rates while providing on-ratio materials that meet suppliers’ specifications. Three levels of operator interface controls are available; these quickly set output flow rates and adjust material volume settings. The automation or the operator can select different stored flow and volume programs.
Has positive rod displacement metering, dispenses precise bead profiles or precision volumetric shots. Flow rates are varied on-ratio during the dispense cycle to provide different shot flows, bead diameters and tip speeds. Accepts low- to high-viscosity materials and is supplied by pumps or pressure tanks. Meter, control panel and supply can be floor-mounted, portable-cart mounted or enclosed in a cabinet.
The effectiveness of board level EMI/RFI shielding depends on many factors: the design of the shielding can, material choice, thickness, venting, method of attachment and the ‘maximum linear dimension’ (the longest contiguous hole or slot). This maximum opening size is a function of the frequency spectrum of the device being shielded and of the attenuation you are trying to achieve. Profiled and folded shielding cans offer many benefits, including bespoke design, exceptional co-planarity, low tooling costs etc., but one drawbacks is the corner seam, which can act as an emitter antenna if it is not folded and mounted with care. This corner seam can be soldered for complete integrity in high frequency applications but much of the time, the need is simply to reduce the maximum linear dimension. A new finger joint arrangement on the corner seam allows two adjacent walls to interlock along the corner seam.
The Quiet Corner design reportedly improves noise attenuation and the mechanical stability of the shielding can.