Product category:
PCB Assembly Equipment and Tools
News Release from: DEK | Subject: VectorGuard PumpPrint stencils
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 20 September 2004
Stencils enable speedy adhesive
application
VectorGuard PumpPrint stencils combine the speed and flexibility advantages of pump printing compared with dispensing, with the strengths of the VectorGuard tension system.
VectorGuard PumpPrint stencils combine the speed and flexibility advantages of pump printing compared with dispensing, with the strengths of the VectorGuard tension system These include cost saving in storage and transport, easy handling, rapid changeover and environmental benefits
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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DEK has added large foils to its range of VectorGuard stencils, allowing customers to reduce changeover time and ease stencil handling and storage challenges in large image area applications.
VectorGuard PumpPrint stencils are available in two standard sizes, 23 x 23 and 29 x 29in, and initially in 3mm thickness.
The new mounting system eliminates the mesh and aluminium frame of standard PumpPrint stencils.
The tensioning system of the VectorGuard frame attaches directly to the acrylic PumpPrint stencils, by engaging in the channel specially routed around the circumference of the stencil.
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The standard VectorGuard frame can be used, with no modification even to the frame tension.
This makes the new stencils easy to set up on any printing machine required to print adhesive in preference to dispensing.
It also protects customers' existing investments in VectorGuard technology, by allowing standard VectorGuard frames to be used directly for PumpPrinting as well as for stencil printing.
The compact and convenient VectorGuard stencil storage systems such as the DEK printer caddy or the DEK cabinet are also compatible with VectorGuard PumpPrint stencils.
This allows a large number of stencils to be stored tidily and unobtrusively, close to the factory floor, ready for rapid retrieval and use for all kind of mass imaging applications.
PumpPrinting delivers a convenient, flexible, high throughput solution to depositing predominantly adhesives for SMT applications including double-sided SMT assembly.
The technique is performed using a standard screen printing machine such as a DEK Viking-Class platform, using a stencil.
This approach is inherently much faster than a conventional adhesive dispenser.
The acrylic PumpPrinting stencils, which are thicker than laser-cut stainless steel stencils for solder paste printing, allow large numbers of adhesives deposits of almost any shape and size to be made on populated (print side) PCBs at high speed, with sub-8s cycle times per PCB quite possible.
Viewing each stencil aperture as the equivalent of one dispensing machine nozzle enables a valid speed comparison between PumpPrinting and dispensing.
PumpPrinting also obviates the high capital investment in dedicated dispensing equipment, and the screen printer may be reassigned to solder paste printing as required.
The programming time for a dispenser is also eliminated.
Although PumpPrinting is now the industrial standard method for adhesive application, the technique is not restricted to the printing of adhesives.
Applications such as silver epoxy die attach on prepopulated substrates, extrusive reflow (printing solder paste onto through-hole leads such as connectors) and high solder paste volume applications such as shield attachments are becoming increasingly common applications.
DEK has set up production facilities for VectorGuard PumpPrint stencils in Europe and North America, to maximise availability and ensure rapid delivery.
Further manufacturing capacity, including through technology license agreements, may be added in the future.
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