Pick & Place File Formats Views: 2014

Pick & Place File Formats								Vinit	11/01/09
Pick & Place File Formats								770jst	11/02/09
	Pick & Place File Formats							Vinit	11/02/09
		Pick & Place File Formats						Deni	11/03/09
			Pick & Place File Formats					Vinit	11/03/09
				Pick & Place File Formats				MikeS	11/03/09
					Pick & Place File Formats			Vinit	11/03/09
						Pick & Place File Formats		josh	11/05/09
						Pick & Place File Formats		MikeS	11/06/09
							Pick & Place File Formats	Vinit	11/06/09
Pick & Place File Formats								JAX	11/10/09
	Pick & Place File Formats							Vinit	11/10/09

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Date: November 01, 2009 11:49 PM
Author: Vinit  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats

Hi,

We're currently developing a software for automatic extraction of CAD (Centroid) data from the Gerber. We're in the final leg of development right now.

To make things even simpler for the end user, we're thinking of adding the functionality to Generate Placement Files for various Pick & Place equipment available in the industry.

For this if you could help me by sending samples of placement files of whatever pick & place machines you have, your help would be really appreciated.

Looking forward to your response.

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60257)

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Date: November 02, 2009 09:27 AM
Author: 770jst  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Two questions:

Exactly what is the file information - jusy what we need to import?

And where would we send this information? DO you have contact info?

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60264)

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Date: November 02, 2009 11:16 PM
Author: Vinit  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Hi,

Basically the software extracts Centroid data from the Gerber automatically. We wish to export the centroid data in different pick and place machine formats so that this file can be imported in the machine directly. To be able to do so I need sample Placement Programs of different Pick and Place machines. If you could send me the samples at vinit.verma@prosemtechnology.com, I'd really appreciate that.

Vinit

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60272)

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Date: November 03, 2009 01:11 AM
Author: Deni  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Almost every machine can import plain ASCII files, internal formats vary a lot and usually are in some kind of binary format. My suggestion is to generate plain ASCII file with at minimum 5 fields : X, Y, theta, RefDes and component type.

- Deni

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60274)

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Date: November 03, 2009 01:54 AM
Author: Vinit  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Hi,

We already export in plain ASCII format with the PCB dimensions, coordinates of all 4 corners with respect to the origin, circuit repeat offsets, and Centroid data with RefDes, X, Y, R, Part No. and Package information. However many customers have requested an option for generating the output in Machine specific outputs. We have built outputs in I-Pulse and Yamaha formats.

For other formats, we need sample files. If anyone can submit samples, it would help!!

Vinit

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60275)

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Date: November 03, 2009 03:29 PM
Author: MikeS  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Have you contacted the equipment manufacturers directly?

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60283)

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Date: November 03, 2009 11:34 PM
Author: Vinit  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Hi Mike,

Frankly, no. I've not contacted the equipment manufacturers directly because I'm not sure if they'd like to support. Secondly, it'll take a hell lot of time to find the right contact within different manufacturers! Getting sample files from users is much faster and simpler. Most users have multiple brand equipment in one shop floor so they can probably help me with multiple formats.

If you're using ANY SMT pick & place machine, can you please send me the placement program sample file?

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60293)

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Date: November 05, 2009 07:01 PM
Author: josh  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


just to mention specific machine files are copyright protected maybe - and making files without machine vendor blessing might be a issue ?if you intend to sell your software etc ? not sure but might be in relm of possiblity....

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60341)

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Date: November 06, 2009 01:41 PM
Author: MikeS  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Sample files may not contain all the data you need - unused flags, fields, ...etc. In addition, the optimization software may be fairly involved with each platform.

Good luck,
Mike

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60352)

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Date: November 06, 2009 09:23 PM
Author: Vinit  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Hi Mike,

Yes you're right! That's why I normally ask for multiple sample files so as get as much information as possible. Your remark about the optimization software is correct. THE product that we are developing will NOT optimize/auto sequence the program. It is intended to provide the customer centroid data but in the machine format so that conversion process can be overcome.


(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60355)

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Date: November 10, 2009 07:21 AM
Author: JAX  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


I would like to know more about how your software will "automatically extract" centroid.
I'm assuming people who only own "Viewers" would use it to get centroid data... except how would that person digitize the aperture groupings into components?
If you have the ability to create components by grouping apertures you will most likely already have the ability to generate centroid. I have never seen a Gerber software package without this ability.
I think creating a formatted file for the machine to import the X-Y data is a something to seperate you.
Maybe I missed the mark. Let me know as I would like to hear more.

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60385)

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Date: November 10, 2009 11:17 PM
Author: Vinit  
Subject: Pick & Place File Formats


Hi Jax,

I didn't understand your question very well. I'll try to answer based on whatever I could understand!

Most Gerber viewers available in the market - especially free versions, DONOT have the capability to group apertures to build component. This option is available only on select costly software. Anyhow, in our product the user selects for instance the 2 pads (apertures) that define a component. Now the software can find all matching components in the entire Gerber (or in a selected Circuit if so selected earlier) and will list the Centroids of all found components. Part no. and package information can be extracted from a BOM using the BOM and CAD matching function.

The output of the product is currently Generic which can be used to make SMT machine programs. We have also developed outputs in I-Pulse and Yamaha formats. However for other users, we are seeking sample files so that we can create outputs in those formats as well.

Hope I have answered your questions well!

(http://www.smtnet.com/distributed_forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=8&Message_ID=60398)