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New Products
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
ESD-safe Turntables
Known as the first "lazy susan" with static protective properties, these ESD-safe turntables reportedly meet the increasing demand for better ergonomics in the workplace, especially when it comes to heavy, awkward objects that require manual operations such as repetitive turning. The turntables are said to have a low profile of 0.5" and are easy to rotate with a precision bearing assembly inside. The base is conductive plastic, and the top surface is a rubberized conductive material to keep the work from slipping. Surface resistivity is 5 ¥ 10e6 and volume resistivity is 1 ¥ 10e7. The turntables are available in three sizes — 12, 15 and 20" diameter — and each is capable of holding up to 200 lb. PC Products Div. of Fancort Industries Inc., West Caldwell, N.J.
Lead-free Solder Paste
A lead-free solder paste optimized for reflow in air on a range of PCB assembly applications, Multicore LF320 is said to require a minimum peak reflow temperature of 229ºC, versus the common 240ºC minimum. This 10ºC advantage provides a comfortable safety margin when reflowing temperature-sensitive components. With a print speed range of 25 to 100 mms-1 and an abandon time up to two hours, the paste reportedly offers good wetting on a range of surface finishes. Additionally, the paste has been formulated to provide high resistance to slump and solder balling. Typical end use applications include automotive, telecommunications, consumer products and computer assemblies. Henkel Loctite Corp., Industry, Calif.
BGA Socket
The Matrix Series BGA socket uses MPI polymer material and is targeted for use in test and development applications. The socket uses compression contact technology to eliminate any electrical disturbance that traditional contacts can cause. This interconnect is for package or system performance validation without directly soldering the BGA to the board. A flexible manufacturing process reportedly allows for many socket configurations to be produced without tooling charges. Sockets are available in standard pitches of 1.27, 1.00 and 0.80 mm. Standard socket configurations are fully populated arrays with sizes ranging from 10 ¥ 10 to 60 ¥ 60, yielding up to 3,600 contacts in a single array. Tyco Electronics, Harrisburg, Pa.
High-speed Mounter
A high-speed flexible mounter, KE-2060 provides one multi-nozzle laser head with four nozzles and one high-resolution head for fine-pitch component placement. Reportedly enabling quick programming and fast changeover, the system can deal with any board type and bill-of-materials. The machine is said to provide a unique dual component recognition system using both vision and laser technology. The mounter's vision centering system features bottom, side and back lighting for both ball and split recognition. A 1,024 ¥ 1,024-pixel high-resolution camera option provides a wider range of component handling. The machine can place up to 12,500 cph for the multi-nozzle laser head and up to 1,850 fine-pitch IC component placement for its high-resolution laser head. Juki Automation Systems, Morrisville, N.C.
Assembly Tools & Equipment
Circular Blade Depanelizer
Able to singulate multiple prescored PCB panels in one pass, K5000 or K6000 PCB depanelizer can separate panels up to 10" wide by placing onto an input conveyor that is passed onto separator blades. Both machines reportedly are available in a straight through version for singulating up ..to 10 panels in one pass, or as X-Y machines for singulating panels in two directions. K5000 is manually fed and unloaded. A transparent cover protects the cutting area and prevents access during operation. Separated panels are said to slide down a gentle incline onto a conveyor belt. Up to 10 sets of blades can be placed side by side onto the separator mandrels. K6000 is an in-line version of the system with PLC, adjustable side rail input conveyor, flat belt output conveyor and SMEMA interface. FKN Systek, Framingham, Mass.
Dispensing Equipment
Updated Encoder Count
This company offers an enhanced encoder count on its Micro Valve, increasing the precision and repeatability for micro volume dispensing applications. The programmable encoder, which reportedly controls rotation of the auger, has been modified to provide 200,000 counts per 360º revolution, more than three times the count of the standard encoder. This is said to allow the valve to repeatably dispense 5.5 mil volumes, depending on material and application requirements. The valve is said to be the only one on the market that can deposit repeatable micro volumes using a standard dispensing platform, making it ideal for high-density interconnect, optoelectronics and more. DL Technology LLC, Haverhill, Mass.
Multi-piston Dispensing
Providing positive displacement and digital control, the Multi-Piston pump provides repeatable dispense precision of ±1 percent at three standard deviations with no need for weight scale correction. Because the pump uses multiple pistons, it reportedly does not require a recharge step, allowing for maximum throughput regardless of dispense volume. Additionally, carbide inserts allow for the use of abrasive encapsulants and underfill materials. The pump is said to feature a quick-disconnect fitting for easy attachment/detachment, allowing a production line to resume operation quickly, and parts can be cleaned off-line to avoid delay. The pump is flexible and can dispense volumes to less than 1 mg, targeting the pump for use in CSP and flip chip underfill applications, in addition to encapsulation. Cookson Electronics Equipment, Franklin, Mass.
Inspection Equipment
X-ray Inspection
X8011 Series X-ray inspection system reportedly offers standard features such as automatic handling for in-line capability and a larger inspection area in a compact footprint. Numerous new features such as axis manipulation, a VMC user interface for greater convenience and comprehensive analysis software ..also ensure performance and ease of use. In addition to the three-axis manipulator, a new motor-driven tilting unit is used for 3-D inspection of the specimen. A tilting circuit board holder is said to be available, especially suited for flat assemblies. As an alternative, an orthogonal tiltable double-frame also is available. Viscom USA, Norcross, Ga.
PICK-AND-PLACE equipment
Multifunctional Placement System
For placement head motion, the Siplace HF (high flexibility) is said to be the first machine in the industry to use linear motor drives for each axis (X, Y and Z) mounted on a carbon filter composite (CFC) gantry. Combining linear motors with a strong yet ..lightweight CFC gantry reportedly delivers greater overall placement speeds at better accuracies. The system places up to 17,000 cph and can achieve an accuracy of 30 µm at 4 sigma. Additionally, it offers a component range of 0201 to 85 mm2. For odd-form applications, the machine reportedly can place connectors as tall as 25 mm and as large as 200 ¥ 125 mm. Siemens Dematic Electronics Assembly Systems Inc., Norcross, Ga.
Screen printing
Stencil/Screen Printer
Engineered to achieve high levels of precision and consistency in paste deposition, SemiTouch ST2020 is a semiautomatic stencil/screen printing system that is said to offer programmable servo snap-off, pressure loop controlled squeegees, flat panel touch monitor and self-diagnostics for instant troubleshooting to ensure maximum productivity. The system reportedly is equipped with an industrial vibrating squeegee and provides multiple benefits: lower squeegee pressures, longer stencil life, consistent paste deposition and elimination of paste scavenging. Additionally, higher printer speeds and improved print quality are achieved. With a maximum print area of 16 ¥ 20", the printer offers a double squeegee assembly and multiple print modes. Milara Inc., Medfield, Mass.