Product category:
PCB Assembly Equipment and Tools
News Release from: Assembléon | Subject: Gem XII
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 02 July 2004
More flexibility for low-end placement
machines
Important new features further enhance the flexibility of Assembleon's proven Gem range of entry-level to medium-volume pick-and-place machines.
Important new features further enhance the flexibility of Assembleon's proven Gem range of entry-level to medium-volume pick-and-place machines Feeder developments including Assembleon's innovative twin tape feeders are now available on the Topaz-XiII and Emerald-XiII machines
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 9 May 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The FCM Ceramic is the latest addition to the FCM fast component mounter family from Assembl?on.
Mounter puts larger components on larger PCBs
Assembleon's release of an enhanced Topaz-X component mounter further strengthens the company's position in the medium-volume SMT assembly marketplace.
Unique feeder design, based on dual tape single slot (DTSS) technology, enables the user to double the number of unique 8mm components to a maximum of 160 per machine, in addition to the 120-tray feeder capability provided by the large component sequencer.
Patented technology now allows offline setup of any mix of intelligent tape feeders.
Additional feeder developments include feeder trolleys with battery backup, and adaptive feeder trolleys, which accept feeders from other machine vendors to minimise conversion cost from any third-party manufacturing environment to Assembleon's modern, flexibility-driven approach.
Further reading
Software speeds SMT assembly operations
Assembleon has upgraded its PPS Pro production preparation software to accelerate the setup, and increase the output, of component placement operations in SMT assembly.
Wafer feeder puts dice onboard
Assembleon has a new wafer feeder option for its Topaz-XiII and ACM component placement machines.
An innovative method for online and offline identification of feeders is based on a small RF-ID tag attached to the bottom of the feeder.
This communicates with antennae embedded in the feeder bars for automatic setup verification and real-time component inventory management.
This feeder identification method also enables elegant lot traceability solutions.
Compatibility is assured with the large installed base of Topaz, Opal, Emerald and Sapphire machines with pneumatic feeders.
Also on all XII machines, on-the-fly 3D vision now supports the drive for zero-defect process capability.
By using two line array cameras - one slightly angled and one vertical as standard - detailed 3D topography images of, for example, QFP and BGA can be created in real time with no speed penalty.
The new advanced image processing allows immediate recognition of any coplanarity issues or damaged BGA ball patterns.
A new gantry solution on the entry-level Opal-XII allows for 100 pneumatic feeders in addition to the 120-tray feeder capability provided by the large component sequencer.
It also enables very large boards - up to 850 x 650mm - to be processed in batch, while the machine can be converted back to the standard in-line capability in less than 15min.
Finally, a new offline vision file creation tool speeds new product introductions.
New components are presented to an offline camera/illumination system, identical to the system used in the XII machines, and a vision file is automatically created.
The system also provides compatible vision files for legacy GEM machines.
Assembleon's constantly evolving Gem XII range comprises the multifunctional Topaz-XII, multifunctional/fine-pitch/oddform Emerald-XII, entry-level multifunctional Opal-XII, and Sapphire-XII chipshooter.
GEM machines offer mix-and-match flexibility and an upgrade path via compatible A-series machines.
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