SMTnet.com Electronics Manufacturing Forum

SMT Stencil Printer Recommendations

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:38:59 GMT

Hi, We're looking to buy a second user stencil printer with fully automated alignment and ideally 2D solder inspection. We're looking at DEK and we use their 23" Vectorguard stencils already, but can anyone advise a particular model. Probably something aged mid 2000's onwards. Thanks

Topaz files, information

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:15:06 GMT

Hello, i´m trying to do a program to convert a text file from Altium to Topaz-X files. But i dont have any information about its format. Can someone help me Thanks

ANN: PCBSynergy new formats

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:43:11 GMT

I have finally updated my shareware SMT Machine program It reads Protel ( from Autotrax to Altium Designer) and spits out Yamaha/Philips UFOS, VIOS , Mydata, Fuji MCS2 CP642 CP732, Gencad 1.3, Philips, FCM, ACM, FTIP, Essemtec, Panasonic BM221 CM88, Samsung SSA, Sanyo POS TCM3500Z, Siemens, Juki 2000 series, Mirae PRG, Access ADO_SQL other formats are in development. It also has a naturally sorted Bill of Materials, and costing functions It can be downloaded from: http://users.tpg.com.au/sarason/index.html Sarason

Solar Power - Heating Cooling Ventilation

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:25:46 GMT

BGA Underfill

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:14:16 GMT

Can anyone suggest a good underfill compound that is readily available for manual dispensing. I need to underfill a small BGA less that 12mm square.

Fuji Cp 643 st19

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:32:12 GMT

Hello estimated Someone can help me with a problem that I have in one cp643 which marks the stations 17 and 19 of almost all the holders, already there changed the amplifiers of both stations and were calibrated but it follows the problem. Thanks.

Senju wave opinions?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:08:16 GMT

We finally can't avoid adding wave solder to our process anymore. For lead-free, medium sized wave I'm leaning towards mid 2000s senju units as the best fit. I've never run their equipment. Opinions? As a point of reference for our general capabilities, we have a late 90s MPM AP-25 printer, a pair of late 90s GSMs, a 2007 Vitronics reflow oven, plus an old heller oven and a semi-auto quad printer we use for a curing line. So nothing fancy, but reasonably solid, workhorse type stuff. We do some fairly chunky connectors and a lot of 4 layer, 2 to 4 ounce copper boards. Throughput is about 10,000 boards (1000 panels or so) a month. Looking to spend between $20k and $30k on a wave machine. Smaller solder pot to limit the up-front solder cost would be nice. If not senju, recommendations? Thanks, John

Standard for automated placement & assembly, density etc.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:45:47 GMT

I am planning a PCB design for automated assembly of all components, SMT. I have been told that the industry standard used at the assembly house is something called "88", and that the assembly house can do better "55" or even "44". I’m not sure if this is referring to a certain standard or if this is a measure of the maximum achievable component density or inter-component proximity for placement or something else. Is anyone familiar with automated assembly and knows what this is referring to ? Thank you

Philips Topaz X DOWNLOAD IO STN.DATA NG

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:43:08 GMT

Having a problem at power up, that our Philips Topaz X displays "DOWNLOAD IO STN.DATA NG" in red. It times out after about 5 minutes, then comes up. When we try to find the origin, it gives an error that the "Head Down sensor is OFF". If we go into the manual IO screen, we can't get any of the head outputs to do anything. The head inputs don't change when the heads are moved, even though the LED's on the sensors are changing.

MPM SPM-AV Replacement parts needed

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:12:11 GMT

Hey I am in need of the following replaclment parts for an MPM SPM-AV s/n: 7095 Im looking for the Z-Axis Motor MPM p/n: 000298 and a Z axis belt MPM p/n: p2387 Let me know if you have any of these or you can shoot me in the right direction. Thanks, Vic

F4G base program...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:41:07 GMT

Hi all, I used to be able to set a base program when optimizing in the MCS so that the new program would have the common feeders in the same location as the original... with a few exeptions. I'm trying to do this in the F4G and it is not working. I tried changing the options but it always comes out the same and this is not close to the original. I want to have the top and bottom layers common parts (like 90% of all parts) in the same location. I see a PST option but I didn't use that in the MCS. Is a PST the way to do this in the F4G? Thanks

FR-4 PCB Material

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:01:05 GMT

If the FR-4 Material used for PCBs recyclable? If so, who is doing it?

I need venix 1.6.????? Boot disk or set to buy or borrow. Please

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:13:56 GMT

I have a machine down and my venix boot disk won't work, I am looking for purchase or borrow, please help if you can. Tom 6124231504

used spare parts for Contact Systems 3 series wanted

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:57:35 GMT

I need some spare parts for contact systems 3 series machine such as tool tips, calib. tips, etc. Who can offer me any please drop me an email. Thanks,

HMP hand soldering.

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:11:32 GMT

Hi, We are currently having issues with hand soldering High melting point solder wire. Can anyone give a few tips. We are Preheating boards to 120 deg C and using soldering irons @ 410 deg C. The quality is ok but the ts taking 20-30 seconds to create a good joint. Thanks, Richie

X-Out Board

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:48:25 GMT

Dear all, Have anyone deal with X-Out boards? These defects are declared if one cavity or more from multi cavity boards are defective. There have been a request to use these boards in order to reduce the multi cavity board spoilage at supplier. How to manage these boards in production lines? My opinion : 1. X-Out Board Identification 2. Special Program to skip mount non-usage cavity 3. Special AOI Program to save the inspection time & false error. Any other ideas?

Counterfit parts

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:40:02 GMT

I know there are numerous articles about counterfit parts. I am wondering can anyone tell me if there is a standard that I can hold my vendors to, also how do I know that the paper they send me stating that parts are real is genuine. Its seems to me if you can fake parts you could fake a piece of paper. I need help. Any guidance would be appreciated.

LF Wave Solder - SN100C Users

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:34:12 GMT

We have been using a selective solder system for all of our automated LF through hole processing to this point. It has served us well but volumes are increasing and we are getting ready to pull the trigger on a full size wave machine to handle the larger numbers. We have been using SN100C in our selective equipment (only a 30 lb pot) and now need to determine if we are sure enough about SN100C to fill a 1500 lb pot full of the stuff. We have been very happy with the soldering results for this alloy. We have no customer requirements to use SN100C so there are no real limitations in selecting another alloy. Cost is obviously a major factor in all of this. I'd like to hear from people who are using SN100C in a full size wave and the pros and cons you've encountered. Would also like to hear from those using something different and why. Thanks in advance.

screen thickness

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:08:13 GMT

Is there a different thickness of screens we should be using for smaller components (sod523 / sot23 / 0603) or new pastes? Thanks.

Board Design

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:50:24 GMT

Does anybody still use local fiducials for fine pitch parts in board design?

DEK Vectorguard develops leak for 3rd time

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:39:58 GMT

I was wondering if anyone else out there using the Vectorguard system by DEK has had problems with leaking air bladders. We started using a 29 x 29 frame about a year ago, and already, we've needed to send the frame back 3 times for repair due to internal air leaks. Max pressure we have used is 90 psi, but generally in the 75-85 psi range. We just purchased another spare so we're not dead in the water when we get a leak, but I'm wondering if this is normal "wear" or something else. Seems like it's too much pressure, but if so, what it the max pressure the frame can handle?

Attrition... how to control?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:37:19 GMT

Hello guys I hope you can help me, I had worked with machines that usually tell you how many components are dropped off, now I have some very old machines without such information, any idea how to measure if attrition rates are normal? I expect to be arround 3-5%. PS.-We are a very low volume & high mix, many changeovers a day. Any input will be apreciated

Metal Film Resistor Drifting

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:49:09 GMT

Can any one help me on articles about reasons for metal film resistor value drifting after working over a period of time Thank you

Panasonic CM Users

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:03:41 GMT

I have a question for any Panasonic CM 402/602 users. We run Cree XPE/XPG/XPC LED's on our machines, and have struggled for years with the lights sticking in our nozzles. We have two types, I believe both designed by Cree, one picks the light up by the dome, and one goes over the dome to the base. The problem is the machine cannot break the vacuum or blow off the lights on either one every time. We will get a vacuum thick error check...remove part by hand..etc. some days are worse than others. We have checked our humidity in the machines,(25-35%)checked for static build up(0%). We can increase the air for the vacuum break, which is relatively successful but can wreak havoc with other parts. Anyone out there running the same nozzle type/LED's having seen this and how did you fix it? At the present time we are trying to "dry the LED's as it seems the silicon dome's are stickier than others. And yes we are trying to get Cree to help sort this out. Thanks

0 Ohm SMD resistor

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:06:04 GMT

Please help me with this: I need a zero Ohm SMD resistor (strap) to connect 2 PCBs but to be like a wire, that can be bent. I need to be SMD because I want to be place it with "pick and place machine". Thank you.