Printing printed circuit boards (PCBs) in highly flexible production environment demands new solutions for efficient use of a screen/stencil printer. Standard inline printers are not ideally suited since various production lines or production cells would need a machine for each section.

 

The SP500 batch printer from ESSEMTEC (Glassboro, NJ) can be used for printing several lines or cells, as it provides a fully automatic process.

 

All printing parameters are stored in an internal database and users can also store information such as set up info and solder paste and stencil specifications. The operator can easily select the product and gets all necessary information for setting the new batch.

 

The printer automatically aligns the PCBs to the stencils with an integrated vision system. The printer can be operated in a manual loading or fully automatic batch-loading mode. The related PCB loading/unloading system automatically feeds PCBs from a rack, prints them and stores them on the same rack. The integrated underside stencil cleaning system makes sure that the batch is properly printed, avoiding blocked stencil apertures. Different cycles can be programmed and three different cleaning modes—dry, wet or vacuum—can be selected and combined.

 

The complete printing cycle is fully automatic; a full rack of PCBs can be printed and then inserted to a surface-mount device assembly line or cell. Problems with paste drying on the stencil are avoided.

 

www.essemtec.com

 

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