Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

The 752 series compact, low-maintenance dispense valve reportedly applies accurate, consistent amounts of cyanoacrylate adhesives and other assembly fluids on automated production lines.

Pneumatically operated valve has no tubing to leak or O-rings to wear out. Precision diaphragm rated for tens of millions of cycles provides long, trouble-free operation. A fast, clean cutoff after each shot eliminates dripping, waste and cosmetic damage to parts.

The amount of cyanoacrylate dispensed is determined by fluid pressure, flow rate and valve open time. Adjustable stroke control allows the flow rate to be fine-tuned, while valve open time is regulated with a microprocessor-based controller. Valve open time can be adjusted in increments as small as 0.001 sec.

Ideal for automated assembly machines, XYZ tables and retrofits on current production lines.

EFD Inc. (a divion of Nordson Corp.), efd-inc.com

The EFD 752 series

MX5 high-throughput printer utilizes parallel vision technology for cycle times of less than 5 sec., including printing. Features reliability, ease of use and maintainability. The company's 2 ½-D post-print inspection and vision technology are standard. Configured with various handling systems to process virtually all substrates, including PCBs, ceramics, flex circuits and solar cells. Can use screens or stencils.

EKRA America, ekra.com

PA0766NLT Power Bead integrated ferrite-bead inductor has two independent inductors integrated into a single core structure and part number with no magnetic coupling between them. Can be used in any multi-phase circuit application, including double data rate (DDR) memory, multi-phase CPU power and other desktop, portable and server computing applications, as well as 2- and 4-phase telecommunications power systems.

Replacing two surface-mount iron inductors with one integrated inductor reportedly results in: 20% savings of board space; 47% lower direct current resistance (DCR); 80% lower core loss; reduced AC proximity loss in the winding; and cost reduction of 25%.

Footprint is 0.55 x 0.53 x 0.28" (14.0 x 13.5 x 7.0 mm).

Available in four different inductance values and current ratings from 296 nH at 38 Amps peak current per phase to 568 nH at 18.5 Amps peak current per phase. Direct current resistance is 0.9 milliohms maximum per phase. Rated for operation up to 130°C; RoHS compliant.

Pulse, a Technitrol Co., pulseeng.com

Multicore LF318 is a halide-free, no-clean, pin-testable, lead-free solder paste that promises broad process windows for printing and reflow. Developed to appeal to multinational manufacturers wishing to qualify a single solder paste with reliable, repeatable performance within the assembly environment.

Reportedly achieves a high degree of coalescence upon reflow even after 72 hours at 27° C and 80% RH, and in testing to IPC ANSI/J-STD-005 and JIS-Z-3284 standards displays excellent resistance to slump. Has low paste wastage - the result of superior tack life and an open time greater than 24 hr. - and resistance to component movement during high-speed placement, through its high initial tack force of 2.0g/mm².Suitable for reflow in air or nitrogen, said to display excellent solderability on a range of surface finishes, including Ni/Au, immersion Sn, immersion Ag and OSP copper. Soft, non-stick, colourless residues remain after reflow, easing visual inspection and permitting reliable in-circuit testing.

Available in lead-free alloys 96SC (SAC387) and 97SC (SAC305, and a tin-lead version.

Henkel, henkel.com

SemiTouch, a semiautomatic stencil/screen printer is engineered for precision and consistency in paste deposition. Offers a self-diagnostic program for instant troubleshooting.

Has print area of 16 x 20", offers double squeegee assembly and multiple print modes. Includes servo programmable squeegee speed and positions; controlled vertical stencil lift; last board recall; an infinite board storage library; interchangeable squeegee heads; runtime diagnostics; programmable snap off delay, squeegee up delay and squeegee offset; floating or fixed squeegee holders; and more.

Registration repeatability is ±0.005", with stencil separation gap range of 0.5" and a squeegee pressure of 1 to 65 psi.

Milara Inc., milarasmt.com

BOLTON, MA, Jan. 10 -- DownStream Technologies will release the latest revision of its PCB CAM software next month, the company said today.

CAM350 v. 8.7 will include modules for Fast Array and ODB++ Import. All mid-range and high-end configurations will include the ODB++ Export module.

Company officials cited a growing demand by mainstream PCB designers for new alternatives to Gerber and greater functionality to array PCBs.

Fast Array automates the sub-panel process to quickly array a PCB or a group of PCBs on a panel, feeding the fabrication and assembly process. The bidirectional ODB++ format permits easy import and export of symbols, step and repeat, components and drills.

"We have continued to see the mainstream market become increasingly conscious of how PCB design impacts PCB manufacturing," said Rick Almeida, founder of DownStream (www.downstreamtech.com), in a press statement. "With release 8.7, we are delivering what used to be 'exclusive' technology with virtually every new product we ship. This will allow our customers to design the most manufacturable PCBs they can."

The new release also supports Altium's PCAD 2004 and the next product update of Mentor's PADS PCB layout software, and has a number of other software corrections.

The release comes at no additional charge to all existing customers with a valid maintenance agreement. The update will be available in February.

In a press statement, the company said it plans "several other important" announcements for PCB design this year.