Mill-Max now offers a 7” mini reel to accommodate 8 & 12 mm carrier tapes.
 
Offers receptacles (discrete sockets) on carrier tape per EIA-481 to feed automated pick-and-place equipment. A 7” reel holds about one quarter the parts of a 13” reel. Is more economic and convenient for smaller volume customers.

Two types of receptacles are available on carrier tape: surface-mount, flat types, which sit on the    surface of the PCB where the pin or component lead plugs-in parallel to the PCB; and thru-hole types where the lead plugs-in perpendicular to the PCB. Thru-hole receptacles are intrusive reflow soldered.

Thru-hole (tubular) receptacles have an Organic Fibre Plug barrier which prevents solder paste or flux from contaminating the spring contact. After soldering, the barrier is pushed out of the receptacle when the device is plugged in.

Lead free plating options are available. Instead of traditional tin/lead plating on the receptacle’s shell and contact, a pure matte tin with oxide and whisker inhibitors can be specified.
 
Mill-Max Mfg. Corp., mill-max.com
 

Ground Pro ground integrity meter measures tool and facility ground parameters, including connectivity and noise.
 
The handheld, portable instrument measures impedance in compliance with ANSI 6.1 and ESDA S20.20 requirements.
 
Measures three important ground parameters:
 
1) Impedance Meter -  Measures the true value in Ohms on ground regardless of ground currents and noise/EMI that is common on working tools, with alarm threshold settings.
 
2) High Frequency (EMI) Signal Meter - Measures the peak and average of the high frequency (EMI) signals traveling in the tool or facility ground.  User defined alarm thresholds will audibly warn of high frequency (EMI) signals above preset levels.
 
3) AC Voltage Meter - Measures the AC voltage on ground, if ground is miswired accidentally, as with the other features, an audible alarm indication with notify the user.
 
Credence Technologies, credencetech.com

Speedline offers two options for its Electrovert Electra, Vectra and Econopak Gold wave soldering systems .
 
The Quick-Change Solder Pot allows for easy changeover between tin/lead and lead-free alloys. It is inserted in a cart on rollers, making it simple to move the pot to and from a storage location.
 
Cast iron solder pot and its components are resistant to the corrosive nature of lead-free solders and are capable of withstanding temperatures of 315ºC (600ºF). All stainless steel components that come into contact with the solder are composed of ElectroCoat corrosion-resistive surface conversion as a standard feature, or titanium as an option.
 
UltraFill Lead-Free nozzles are 40% wider than traditional tin/lead nozzles to increase contact length and dwell time. Are also placed closer together to reduce the temperature drop between nozzles – so less heat is needed to reflow solder joints in the second wave.  Reportedly deliver better hole fill without requiring a slowing of the conveyor, while reducing bridge defects and dross production.
 
Nitrogen shroud is available as an option – and allows for either air or nitrogen operation without the need to change nozzles.  The shroud encompasses the nozzles in the pot and contains the dross in the solder pot. It lifts for easy maintenance and dedrossing – without nozzle removal.
 
Speedline Technologies, speedlinetech.com
 

With the release of BP Win 4.54, all newly manufactured device programmers will ship standard with USB 2.0 communication interface.

The new product line -- 1410/84, 1410/240,1610, 2610, 3610, 4610 -- replaces earlier programmer models that used a parallel port to communicate from the PC to the programmer.
 
New programmer models also reportedly feature an average increased programming speed of 20%.
 
USB 2.0 upgrade kits are also available for existing customers using 6^th and 7^th Generation manual programmers.
 
New device programmers are supported in Windows 2000 and XP.
 
BP Microsystems, www.bpmicro.com