Universal GSM

I didn't use my real name because I don't want to get bombed with phone calls and emails. We are an OEM looking to put in a SMT line soon. Is this GSM a decent machine? How much does it cost? | | Also and info on decent screen printers and reflow ovens would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! | Ross, Computer chips are definitely better than potato chips. And the GSM is a great placement machine. Especially if you're just putting in an SMT line. They work great, are fast and accurate, are very user-friendly, and come with great technical support. I don't work for Universal, either. But I did have one of the first TAB bonders built on the GSM platform. And they are available reconditioned. As for screenprinters, I'm pretty devoted to MPM. Even their low end machines are very good. I guess DEK is good too. SPend the money on a good printer - they're worth it. As for ovens, they're all big boxes with hot air blowers inside. Just make sure they're repeatable. | Chrys | |

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Ross, Go to web site www.celmacs.com this site will answer all of your questions. Their is SMT machines,screen printers and ovens. | ! |

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I didn't use my real name because I don't want to get bombed with phone calls and emails. We are an OEM looking to put in a SMT line soon. Is this GSM a decent machine? How much does it cost? | | Also and info on decent screen printers and reflow ovens would be appreciated. |Ross -- The GSM is a good reliable SMT platform. A good first step when getting into the SMT business. You can get a manual screen printer for about 23k. Heller makes a good 10zone (5 top and bottom) convection oven. good luck!!! | Thanks in advance! | Ross |

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I appreciate all of your responses. Take Care, Ross Perot

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For information on Convection Solder Reflow Ovens: www.eznet.com/~ets

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Ross, I am a process engineer now but in the past I was an automation Engineer also responsible for maintenance of Mixed tech production lines. The Universal GSM and GSM2 are very reliable machines and have excellent support from Universal. I recently purchased a special app GSM2 that is half GSM half OFA. This machine, in my opinion, is superior to that of The IP's that Fuji put out. I do think Seimens has a better unit however very it is a costly alternative. As far as reflow ovens go I have ETS, Heller, BTU, and RTC ovens here. ETS and Heller are high maintenance machines, from my 7 years in this business I personally do not like them. I prefer BTU VIP98. Higher cost sure but very solid and their modular platen's minimize downtime by letting the tech swap out a module and then fix it, whether it is elements or a blower, off line. I am not aware of anyone else that offers this. If you need any advice just ask, Jason

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I didn't use my real name because I don't want to get bombed with phone calls and emails. We are an OEM looking to put in a SMT line soon. Is this GSM a decent machine? How much does it cost? |

| Also and info on decent screen printers and reflow ovens would be appreciated.

| Thanks in advance!

| Ross | Ross:

We just ordered a GSM. It has great capability and seems to work well with our low Vol/high mix environment here. The GSM will do OFCs like no one else, not to mention 0402s, flip chips, and (as of very recently) will do BGAs as large as 42.5mm2. As others have mentioned, Universal has a great reputation for service and support.

Universal has a division called Broome Engineering that purchases used GSMs and strips them down to the frame. They completely rubuild the machines and give them a one year warranty. I saw some in process and most of the components looked new, the exception being a used PCB. We actually bought one of these machines and saved 50K right there.

You cannot do price comparisons with the GSM, however. A "base" machine has no head or cameras and won't place anything. Our salesman kept saying "there's no standard machine." So you need to plan on spending some time learning about the three camera choices, three head choices (a high speed head is *supposed* to be available by Q2 and they aren't taking orders yet), single or dual gantries and way more than I can type today. Other machines have standard configurations that you simply add to or even subtract from, but the GSM requires you to really do your homework.

You seem to get a better deal if you buy at the end of a quarter. Also, you can get additional savings if you were to buy your conveyors through Universal, too. Problems: the GSM is slow in comparison to Siemens 80F4 and Even Amistar 7100FV is faster. I think the camera locations and limited number of spindles on the head are the culprits.

OSII operating system. If you buy now, then you get the NT upgrade for free, but you still have to suffer with OS for a year.

Limited feeder capacity. You start with 64 slots for 8 or 12mm feeders and go down from there. Optional reject part conveyor= -4 slots. PTIF (tray feeder) eats up 4" of PCB width or 7 feeder slots. So now you're down to a range of 53-64 slots. You could, if you have too much money and floor space, buy a component shuttle for 89K that brings the count up to 116 feeders.

Hope this helps!

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gluck

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I have been aroung Universal GSM's for anbout 9 years, We have 8 machine's and they run great. The support from Universal is very good, replacement parts for the GSM will cost you, but you do not have to order them very much. Good luck with whatever decision. We also have BTU ovens and they are very good, very user friendly software.

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