Equipment with a smaller footprint are preferred for batch operations
By Sneha Ambastha
Printed circuit board (PCB) assembly requires various types of equipment for different procedures such as dispensing, coating and curing. All these procedures go hand in hand, especially in batch operations for bulk manufacturing. The applications today require advanced dispensing and coating machines that have high accuracy and repeatability.
Given below are some of the recently released dispensing, coating and curing equipment available in the market.
Understanding your needs is important
Dispensing. This is the process of distributing adhesives or solder paste onto the PCBs during the assembly process. In SMT, dispensers with a jet nozzle or with needles are used but the former enable high speed dispensing.
Coating. This is the process of covering the electronic circuit with a chemical coating to protect it from moisture or chemical contamination.
A dispensing/coating system takes care of both the dispensing and coating processes and is often referred to as a spraying system.
Curing. This is the process by which the chemical coatings react at certain temperatures to form a protective covering for the circuit. It also helps the adhesives or solder paste to dry, and so the process is sometimes known as baking. Special ovens are available in the market for baking and curing
Model: Spider, Brand: Essemtec, Manufacturer: Essemtec AG
Spider is a recently launched high-speed dispensing system from Essemtec with a small footprint. The company claims that its compact jet is extremely fast and dispenses three-dimensional patterns at the rate of 150,000 dots per hour. It requires only 1m² of floor space for production and has a long life with low maintenance. It can accommodate about four different types of valves to dispense, with minimum vibration at different temperature levels.
Key features
- The dispenser has a jet nozzle with a piezo jet valve capable of dispensing at a rate of up to 150,000 dots/h
- Has a linear motor drive working at full speed at a high accuracy of about 40µm (3σ)
- Capable of mounting two dispensing valves at the same time
- Can work on board sizes of up to 406mm x 305mm
- It has a quick changeover time for intuitive CAD imports and job preparation
- Used in 3D applications to map heights using laser technology
Technical specifications
Operating floor space: 1395mm x 1650mm
Dispensing mode: Dot, line, 3D, curve, interpolated curves on multiple layers
Resolution: 0.2μm (Encoder)
Footprint (L x W): 880mm x 1090mm
Power: 230V / 50Hz or 120V / 60Hz (with optional transformer)
Machine weight: 875kg (approx.)
USP: Compact high-speed jetter and dispenser
Contact details: www.essemtec.com
Indian distributor: Essemtronics India Pvt Ltd
Model: Delta 6, Brand: PVA, Manufacturer: Precision Valve & Automation
Delta 6 is a recently launched selective coating-cum-dispensing system from Precision Valve. It is used for various applications such as conformal coating, potting, bead and meter-mix dispensing. It has an overhead platform with three-axis motion for inline and batch operations. It has a slimmer footprint with improved rigidity for easy and robust operations.
Key features
- Has a robotic system with a repeatability of 25 microns
- Comes with a patented servo-controlled optional four-axis motion featuring valve tilt and rotate
- Follows the closed loop process control throughout the gantry system
- Performs multiple dispensing applications or materials in one cell
- Has an onboard personal computer (PC) for unlimited program storage
- Provides an exclusive programming environment through PathMaster
Technical specifications
Work area: One valve/tool: 537mm x 485mm x 101mm
Resolution: 5 microns
Footprint: 847mm x 1136.9mm x 1606mm
Power: 120V, 220V, 50-60Hz
Payload capacity: 11.36kg
USP: Robotic conformal coating/dispensing system for inline/batch operations
Contact details: www.pva.net
Model: EazyCoat, Brand: EPS, Manufacturer: EPS Worldwide Pvt Ltd
EazyCoat is a multi-axis selective conformal coating system from EPS with a reliable robotic conformal coating and dispensing option. It is used for low to medium volume batch and inline operations for coating at all levels. It can be programmed manually or by using the JPEG image of the PCB. The process includes scanning the PCB and marking the coating area on the screen. All this makes it efficient for EMS firms.
Key features
- It is equipped with a robust three-axis motion platform which can be mounted with any of the two valves
- Supports different types of valves such as the spray valve, dispenser valve or thin film coater valve
- Ideal for medium and low volume applications with fast changeover
- Comes with programmable software and stepper motor process control
- On-screen marking capability reduces the programming time needed to specify the coating areas.
Technical specifications
Coating area: XYZ travel: 430mm x 430mm x 50mm Bottom side clearance: 100mm
Resolution: 25 microns
Footprint: 1400mm x 1000mm x 1550mm
Power: 220V AC, 50Hz
Machine weight: 275kg
USP: Can be programmed by manual teaching or by using the JPEG image of the PCB
Contact details: EPS Worldwide Pvt Ltd, www.eps-ww.com
Indian distributor: Mectronics Marketing Services, Ph: 011-42208256/43141581, [email protected], www.mectronics.in
Model: HTT, Brand: SMT, Manufacturer: SMT-AP Pte Ltd
(a subsidiary or SMT Maschinen- und Vertriebs GmbH)
Launched in July 2015, the HTT is a high-temperature temper coating and curing system from SMT. Based on the reflow soldering technology, the HTT can run at very high temperatures and yet be robust and energy efficient. The company claims that this machine is highly customisable, due to which its price varies. Sources within the company also claim that it is highly versatile and can be used in the automotive and semiconductor industries, and can also be used for medical devices and communication systems.
Key features
- Has both a uni-directional conveyor and a bi-directional conveyor, extending from one lane to six lanes
- Handles heavy duty transports up to two transport levels
- Capable of handling assemblies and components with a total weight of up to 9kg/m
- Cuts operating costs because of its smaller footprint, resulting in the need for less floor space
- Comes with accurate machine parameters and process reliability
USP: Based on the characteristics of reflow ovens, the HTT can run at very high temperatures
Contact details: Ph: +65 9126 0407, [email protected], www.smtap.com
Model: SCS Precisioncoat V, Brand: SCS, Manufacturer: Specialty Coating Systems
SCS Precisioncoat V is a conformal coating system that was launched in July 2015. Its Windows-based software makes it customisable as per the material and pattern requirements, ensuring repeatability and high throughput for a wide range of automated material applications. It is used by customers looking for high speed and high accuracy coating. Also, customers with a high percentage of connectors on their PCBs who are not interested in masking, go for Precisioncoat V. The company claims that it is being used by electronics contract manufacturers in the defence and auto ancillary units involved in electronics work, and in industrial electronics, consumer electronics, aerospace, maritime and medical electronics, renewable energy, LED lighting, etc.
Key features
- Comes with a 5-axis programmable tilt and rotate function
- 0º to 45° tilt programmable in 1° increments
- 360° rotate programmable in 1° increments
- Supports continuous concentric motion
- Has full control over partial arc and angle
- Supports offline programming and needle calibration
- Comes with a vision system, coating flow meter and material temperature control system
- Capable of programming atomisation pressure and coating pot pressure
Technical specifications
Work area: 50.8mm x 50.8mm to 508mm x 508mm
Footprint: 990.6mm x 1257.3mm x 1701.8mm
Substrate height (maximum): 127mm above and below pass line
Power: 230V, 50Hz, 3.5A
Machine weight: 372kg
USP: Ensures high accuracy, repeatability and high throughput for a wide range of automated material applications
Contact details: www.scscoatings.com
Indian distributor: iNETest Technologies India Pvt Ltd, Pravin Joshi, Ph: 9960950444, [email protected], www.inetest.co.in
