Hi Colin, good vid. I'm interested on the circular kind of reflow you mentioned. Could you share more information if it is a DIY where to find more info or if you purchased it where and which model? Thanks!
Will try to add some... only getting setup on it now, planned on doing a more detailed blog post but realized it always takes way longer than I think haha, easier to just upload a video.
Gnarly. Did I miss where you mentioned what specifically you did for the paste stencil setup? Did you DIY it or did you order it with your PCB run? Are you using actual machined sheet metal? Are there any fiducial requirements for the vision system? Tried your hand at BGA work for the placement?
I'm using the laser cut ones with a stencil holder/press (so the framed stencils) for this run - I'm doing small production so wanted the framed ones. Normally I'm just using unframed stainless steel ones as the cheap fab houses can add them for like $12, so just go with that. The "fiducial" setup got cut off (oops), but there are no special requirements. It actually picks up the "top-left" and "bottom-right" part & asks you to find it manually. If your fiducials are the top left/bottom right parts it will ask you to find those, otherwise it just finds some random parts. But it's nice as you don't need to actually have fiducials if you were lazy (especially if it's not panellized / a prototype). Haven't tried BGA yet but as 0.5mm TQFP worked OK BGA shouldn't be a problem (I try to stay at 0.8mm/1.0mm BGA where possible to give myself more room).
How do you set up the board for 0,0 origin and penalization? I want to use fiducals but they said not to. They don't seem to be very clear on how to do this. The other issue I have is setting the height on components and board thickness, just offsets in general. Lots of questions.
I have the 0,0 offset as the lower left board edge and generally panelize in the SW (I'm using Altium). I use fiducials but nothing is automatic that I worked out, it requires you to manually "find" the fiducial location (normally it's close but a little fine-tuning is needed). I have done a panelization run using the built-in board panelizer/offset when I only had PnP data for one board that someone else made the panel design for, took a little experimenting to figure out offsets etc but worked eventually. Board height stuff... I figured out a little by watching how much it flexed board down. A higher height means (I think) it doesn't push the part down as much. So a thicker part should have a higher number I think? I started collecting notes at github.com/colinoflynn/chmt36va_hints.
Colin O'Flynn thanks for the reply. Yes I found out a few things and that even with cameras it is manual. I want to develop a few things for this machine like feeders. I can't get my fingers in the tight areas. I just saw a video from the manufacture and they where using cut tape holders in the tray area. This interests me since I don't have reels all the time. I can think of lots of up grades to make this machine better.
Colin, have you found any problems with lowering the machine speed? I've heard not to lower below 80%, then another said not lower that 50%. Where do you run your machine for consistent results? Thanks.
Bonjour, Nous avons l'intention d'acquérir une machine identique pour nos petites séries et prototypes Êtes-vous satisfait de cette machine, que pouvez-vous dire dessus? Merci, Cordialement
![My New Pick & Place Machine [Liteplacer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1FCAFfndcw/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi Colin, good vid. I'm interested on the circular kind of reflow you mentioned. Could you share more information if it is a DIY where to find more info or if you purchased it where and which model? Thanks!
Excellent, you've had this a year, would you buy it again? How many boards have you placed? Thanks.
wow that's much much quieter than my TM240a. Would love to see more videos of this machine.
Will try to add some... only getting setup on it now, planned on doing a more detailed blog post but realized it always takes way longer than I think haha, easier to just upload a video.
Any thoughts on the pick and place after a couple of years?
i think he got rid of it
Gnarly. Did I miss where you mentioned what specifically you did for the paste stencil setup? Did you DIY it or did you order it with your PCB run? Are you using actual machined sheet metal? Are there any fiducial requirements for the vision system? Tried your hand at BGA work for the placement?
I'm using the laser cut ones with a stencil holder/press (so the framed stencils) for this run - I'm doing small production so wanted the framed ones. Normally I'm just using unframed stainless steel ones as the cheap fab houses can add them for like $12, so just go with that. The "fiducial" setup got cut off (oops), but there are no special requirements. It actually picks up the "top-left" and "bottom-right" part & asks you to find it manually. If your fiducials are the top left/bottom right parts it will ask you to find those, otherwise it just finds some random parts. But it's nice as you don't need to actually have fiducials if you were lazy (especially if it's not panellized / a prototype). Haven't tried BGA yet but as 0.5mm TQFP worked OK BGA shouldn't be a problem (I try to stay at 0.8mm/1.0mm BGA where possible to give myself more room).
How do you set up the board for 0,0 origin and penalization? I want to use fiducals but they said not to. They don't seem to be very clear on how to do this. The other issue I have is setting the height on components and board thickness, just offsets in general. Lots of questions.
I have the 0,0 offset as the lower left board edge and generally panelize in the SW (I'm using Altium). I use fiducials but nothing is automatic that I worked out, it requires you to manually "find" the fiducial location (normally it's close but a little fine-tuning is needed). I have done a panelization run using the built-in board panelizer/offset when I only had PnP data for one board that someone else made the panel design for, took a little experimenting to figure out offsets etc but worked eventually.
Board height stuff... I figured out a little by watching how much it flexed board down. A higher height means (I think) it doesn't push the part down as much. So a thicker part should have a higher number I think? I started collecting notes at github.com/colinoflynn/chmt36va_hints.
Colin O'Flynn thanks for the reply. Yes I found out a few things and that even with cameras it is manual. I want to develop a few things for this machine like feeders. I can't get my fingers in the tight areas. I just saw a video from the manufacture and they where using cut tape holders in the tray area. This interests me since I don't have reels all the time. I can think of lots of up grades to make this machine better.
Hi, does it require an external vacuum pump for the suction of the nozzles?
Colin, have you found any problems with lowering the machine speed? I've heard not to lower below 80%, then another said not lower that 50%. Where do you run your machine for consistent results? Thanks.
Bonjour, Nous avons l'intention d'acquérir une machine identique pour nos petites séries et prototypes Êtes-vous satisfait de cette machine, que pouvez-vous dire dessus? Merci, Cordialement
Hey man, just wondering how this PnP machine is holding up after a year? Any issues? How was the company's response time in any issues? Thanks!
Are you still using your T-962A?
Awesome!! :-)