HV-KIT-ESD Handi-Vac Kit is static-dissipative and uses conductive silicone vacuum cups. Each kit comes with one 1/8" and one 1/4" vacuum cup on bent probes, as well as one 1/8" and one 3/8" vacuum cup on straight probes. Applications include SMT parts, metal parts, plastic parts or any item with a smooth, nonporous surface that the rubber vacuum tweezer tip can seal against. Can be used with any of the company’s rubber vacuum cups ranging in size from 3/32" to 3/4" in diameter.
 
Virtual Industries Inc., www.virtual-ii.com
 

This line of quick-mount LCD connector assemblies is installation-ready and includes an acrylic display bezel and mask, as well as an environmentally protective and shock-absorbent retainer that holds two conductive Zebra connectors. Reportedly provides a method for mounting LCDs to PC boards without the need for pins or soldering. Six size options are available to accommodate LCDs from 0.54" x 0.94" up to 1.50" x 2.75". Connectors consist of alternating parallel layers of conductive and nonconductive silicone rubber repeating on a 0.18 mm pitch; offer a nominal resistance of 1000Ω, operating temperature from -40° to 95°C, with a relative humidity range from zero to 100%.
 
Fujipoly America Corp., http://www.fujipoly.com
 

 

ACE Releases High-speed Inline Work Cell The ACE automated, high-speed in-line work cell runs higher volumes of products requiring secondary selective soldering. Designed for flexibility for high-mix environments, the configurable line reportedly offers a higher degree of productivity expected from an automated flowline. Consists of a loading station (assembly area); a Kiss 104F automated selective fluxing station (spray flux, drop-jet or dual); a KPHIL-2 inline top and bottom-side pre-heating station, and a Kiss-104 inline selective soldering station. Kiss 104 also features Automated Optical Alignment system, including a high-quality camera and machine vision system to align each assembly to be soldered using preprogrammed fiducial points on the board.

ACE Production Technologies, www.ace-protech.com

A series of new components include:

*Two new linear bushing designs – Pillow block-type linear bushings come with clamp levers (Part No: LHBBC16), and MX type self-lubricating linear bushings (Part No: LHBB-MX16).
*Magnetic Transmission Drive components, suited to applications in which the non-contacting components result in ultra-low dust generation. 
*Expanded line of LX Single-Axis Actuators with new features such as ballscrew lead options and low dust raise grease. Now come in 1000 possible configurations, up from 200 in the original series.

Most components are configurable, with downloadable CAD files.

Misumi USA, www.misumiusa.com.

 

 

Japan Unix UM-118 Centrifugal Mixer/Defoamer can be used for solder paste, semiconductor materials, solar pastes, epoxies and other materials. Is programmable for duration, cycle profile and up to 1500 rpm centrifugal speed, as well as internal rotational speed. Mixing of materials and defoaming is said to have cycle times half those of conventional mixers. PC-controllable, and has traceability of every program.
 
Japan Unix/Christopher Associates, www.christopherweb.com
 

The Small Part Vacuum Tweezer Kit is for parts as small as 200 µm. Is a general-purpose vacuum handling tool that plugs directly into 110V 50/60 Hz (220V units available). Said to handle a variety of optics, ball lenses and SMT parts, including 0.008"-sized parts, without damage. Long-life diaphragm vacuum pump generates up to 10" of mercury with an open-air flow of 2.3 lpm. Connects to ground automatically with a three-wire power cord. Other features include a push-button release vacuum pickup handle, 5 ft. of coiled vacuum hose, rubber no-skid feet, and a side-mounted handle holder.
  
Virtual Industries Inc., www.vacuumtweezer.com, www.virtual-ii.com  

aSPIre-2 is a fully automated inline solder paste inspection system said to deliver 100% 3-D inspection quickly and accurately. Includes SPC Plus analytical tools and hardware. Processing speed is reportedly up to 50% faster than previous systems. Has 4-axis projection; 3-D volume measurement; short programming time; greater configurability and flexibility; enhanced PCB warpage compensation, and no PCB color sensitivity.
 
Koh Young Technology, www.kohyoung.com