Electronic

Yamaha launches YST15 Intelligent SMD Storage System

Labor Saving in Device Supply to Surface Mounting Processes, Yamaha Motor Launches YST15 Intelligent SMD Storage System, Can Manage a Maximum of 1,500 and Batch Load/Unload 27 Reels.

Yamaha Motor Europe SMT Section announced today that it will launch the new YST15 Intelligent SMD Storage System on October 1, 2018. The YST15 interlinks with mounting lines to automatically store and manage supply of Surface Mount Devices (SMDs). Capable of storing up to 1,500 reels (for the 7-inch 8mm format), the YST15 storage system can also load or unload a maximum of 27 reels in one batch. Through interlinking with a mounting line controlled by the Intelligent Factory IoT/M2M integration system, which enables centralized management of electronic component mounting processes, mount devices requiring supply can be extracted in advance from inventory at the optimal timing and supplied in batches. This advance enables significant reductions in staff workload and prevention of production interruptions due to delays in device supply.

In addition, the optional humidity management function provides storage appropriate for electronic components which require a humidity control. A wide range of advances are being made in automation and smart technology in surface mounting processes which demand high quality and efficiency, but many aspects of supply, transport, and inventory management of mount devices are still carried out manually and require a large labor workload. In order to save labor in mounting process component supply work, Yamaha Motor has previously provided products such as the Auto Loading Feeder (which enables simple supply of mount devices without stopping an operating machine), the sATS30NS Auto Tray Sequencer (ATS) for nonstop tray replacement, and the nonstop feeder carriage exchange system.

The new YST15 links with surface mounters and labor-saving devices, and in the future, through components being automatically transported by Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), will comprehensively increase the production efficiency of the overall mounting process.


VisiConsult integrates the XRHCount into the ASM material manager

VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH successfully integrated their XRHCount component counting system into the ASM material manager.

As part of ASM Pacific Technology Inc., ASM Assembly Systems GmbH & Co. KG is the world’s largest manufacturer of SMT placement machines and printer solutions for electronics manufacturing. Their products are produced at various locations in Munich, Weymouth, Singapore and Malaysia. At the SMT Center of Competence in the German location, VisiConsult has connected a demo system of the XRHCount, the contactless SMD component counting system, to the ASM material manager. Customers have the opportunity to test how the XRHCount updates the stock levels in the ASM material manager. Mr, Oeckl, head of Center of Competence: “We see the XRHCount as an ideal extension for process control, even if there is no homogenous production landscape of our system.”

Convenient and contactless counting of SMD components on component rolls is possible by using the XRHCount. Welded rolls are no problem here. Cycles times under 10 seconds, as well as the global component database, speed up the counting process.

Even in ERP solutions, such as Baan or SAP, the XRHCount can be integrated effortlessly. Thanks to the open interface the connection of special systems is also quick and easy. The official integration into the ASM material manager has made VisiConsult an official ASM partner.


Announcing Yamaha High-end High-efficiency Modular Z:LEX YSM20R

Announcing Yamaha High-end High-efficiency Modular Z:LEX YSM20R, All-around surface mounter with enhanced “1-head solution” and achieving the world’s fastest mounting speed in its class.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announces the April 1, 2018 release of the Z:LEX YSM20R, a new all-around surface mounter that offers the versatility to accommodate a wide range of production formats with flexibility and efficiency while also boasting a mounting speed of 95,000 CPH, making it the world's fastest in its class (under optimum conditions).

The YSM20, a leading Z:LEX Series model, offers high productivity, adaptability to various components and superior production changeover ability based on its “1-head solution” concept to accommodate a wide range of component sizes—from super small chips to large components—with a single type of head. The new YSM20R is a high-end, high-efficiency modular mounter that enhances the production capabilities of the YSM20 and joins the series lineup as a deluxe model aimed at boosting competitiveness.

With the YSM20R, Yamaha focused on increasing XY-axis speeds and revising the actions involved for pick-up to placement, and successfully improved mounting speed by approximately 5% compared to the YSM20. Also, by improving the performance of the wide-scan camera on the head, the YSM20R can mount components up to 12×12 mm in size (up from 8×8 mm) at high speed, thus improving productivity. Further, the new Auto Loading Feeder (ALF) using proprietary Yamaha Motor technology, the “sATS30NS” Auto Tray Sequencer (ATS) for nonstop tray replacement and nonstop feeder carriage exchange system (all available as options) reduce costs and time loss while further improving machine operation rate.


Yamaha ALF Auto Loading Feeder

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA announces the launch of ALF, the auto-loading feeder that revolutionizes feeding tape components by eliminating reliance on user skill. With ALF, any operator can easily supply tape components by merely inserting the tape itself without the need for splicing or complex routing of the tape throught the feeder, and all without stopping the machine or interrupting production.

  • Revolutionizes feeding tape components by eliminating reliance on user skill.
  • Any operator to easily supply tape components by merely inserting the tape, all without stopping the machine.
  • Yamaha’s unique center-open system, which eliminates the need to remove the top tape, reduces pick-up errors due to static peeling charge and fuzz.
  • Yamaha-exclusive tape setting mechanism that extends towards the operator to simplify tape setting and a mechanism that allows for two reels to be set at once on the feeder greatly improves ease of use for the operator.

Feinmetall - New Catalogues

The new catalogues from Feinmetall are out now.

In order to find the right contact probe for your application quickly and at a glance, we have now created four application specific catalogs with appropriate contact probes, including many technical details and application notes.


25 years IPTE

IPTE Factory Automation, the leading worldwide supplier of automation solutions for the electronics and mechanics industry celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017.

IPTE has grown from a small manufacturing company to an internationally recognized supplier of state-of-the-art automation solutions.

Managing Director, Vladimir Dobosch remarked: "We have achieved this milestone through the hard work and dedication of our employees and our culture of customer oriented service that exists throughout the entire organization. We have dedicated ourselves to 25 years of product innovation and manufacturing efficiencies to provide our customer with the highest quality automation products and service. Throughout 2017, we will be taking a look at where we started, what we have achieved, and what our plans are for the future.”

IPTE’s products, website, and production departments are regularly updated to provide customers with leading edge manufacturing technology, innovative engineering and design expertise in the electronics and mechanics industry.


Totech - Outstanding cooling performance

The XSDC series of cooling cabinets is ideal for numerous applications where chilling is required, keeping all substances at a precise safe operating temperature. Compatible with the latest Industry 4.0 standard, the XSDC 601-02 can be connected via a standard Ethernet interface.

The new XSDC cooling cabinets deliver solutions for applications that require cooling, particularly solder paste storage. The XSDC 601 cooling cabinets maintain an internal temperature of 2 – 20°C with little energy expenditure. Constructed from dual wall insulated stainless steel, they incorporate 40 KG capacity shelves. Maintaining tracking of paste locations and time in and out of refrigeration are possible with additional software.


New 3D X-ray system from Viscom: extremely fast handling coupled with high inspection depth

Very short handling times in combination with outstanding image quality and expanded inspection depth predestine this X-ray inspection system for use in high-end electronics production.

The X7056-II system with automatic X-ray inspection (AXI) in the 3D variant guarantees high inspected product quality. A special highlight is the fast transport xFastFlow. Additionally, Viscom will present the new 3D AXI calculation procedures with the vVision operating software for the first time at SMT Nuremberg. The X7056-II offers an extraordinarily high 3D image quality that shows interfering structures considerably reduced. Together with fast handling, the X7056-II is the optimal solution for sophisticated 3D inline X-ray applications.

Based on FastFlow, the fast handling option for Viscom AOI systems, a fast concept for handling is now available for X-ray inspection: With xFastFlow, the system is ideally suited for use in production lines that require high throughput despite extensive inspection of hidden solder joints. Through use of xFastFlow, the time needed for component infeed and outfeed is cut by more than half, and up to four boards can be in the system simultaneously. Due to the time saved, 3D inspections, which used to be done selectively, can be expanded to cover far more than just individual components.

By taking advantage of the third dimension, users have the benefit of an unshadowed view of components and hidden solder joints. The X7056-II, with the help of the planar CT, can automatically resolve any covered areas on double-sided printed circuit boards to clearly reveal important defect features and allow exact evaluations. During periods of high packaging and placement densities, this results in fewer false calls and so more efficient production. This also makes program generation simpler.

The hardware components of such a system must be selected carefully. A powerful flat panel detector, movable on an xy-table, ensures first-class 3D image quality. As the number of acquisitions increases, the precision of the required calculations also rises. This is flexibly determined according to the type of main application to achieve an optimal compromise between cycle time and inspection quality. A big advantage over familiar, rigid detector solutions is the ability to employ 2D and 3D inspections on a component, both selectively and combined. In particular, the optimized image acquisition positioning results in a further increase in speed or – optionally – an even better image quality. The system, like its predecessors, can be expanded to an AOI/AXI combination system.

Trade fair visitors will be convinced: The combination of fast programming, extremely high 3D image quality and intuitive operating concept makes the X7056-II a successful system advance in the area of 3D X-ray inspection.


Yamaha Motor Releases Compact High-Speed Modular YSM10

Yamaha Motor Europe IM announces today the launch of its new YSM10, a surface mounter that is the world's fastest in its class at 46,000CPH. This new addition to the line-up is a compact, high-speed model with space-saving qualities, and provides a combination of component compatibility and versatility.

In addition to the high-end ultra-high-speed modular Z:TA-R YSM40R, and the upper-middle class all-round versatile high-efficiency modular Z:LEX YSM20, this new release enables the YSM series line-up to provide a range of optimum lines designed for a variety of production formats and scale sizes.

The YSM10 is newly developed based on the three "Ones" concept and provides 1) a combination of a mounting speed that is number one in its class, 2) a one-head-solution that does not require replacement, and 3) an integration of three models of the YS12 type into one platform.

While in pursuit of the ideal concept – a 1-head solution with versatility from small chips to large components, the world's fastest speed in its class, and without the need for head replacement - the new model also has a high-speed general-purpose head similar to that used in the Z:LEX YSM20, and a new generation servo system etc. creating a high-class model with the latest technology.

Simultaneously, the specifications of all three current models of the YS12 series have been integrated into one platform featuring the flexibility and mobility of the compact high-speed modular YS12; the partly simplified version of the compact economy-modular YS12P, and the highly-versatile compact modular YS12F.

In addition, pickup and recognition errors are suppressed along with reduced loss in machine stoppage due the integration of the common functionalities of the two high level machines, the Z:TA-R YSM40R and the Z:LEX YSM20 with their e-Vision for automatically creating and tracking component data, Smart Recognition for easily creating component data from complicated shapes, and Pickup MACS system for automatic correction of the component pickup position.


Demo machines from PVA

PVA offers some demo machines for a short time for special prices.

Here is a list of available demo machines from PVA. You would have to take them as they are. We can add small modification like tanks but do not want to rebuild them to specific configuration. First come first serve so we will not make any reservations for any machine.


Ersa wins two NPI-Awards

Kurtz Ersa North America, a leading supplier of electronics production equipment, announces that it has been awarded two 2017 NPI Awards. The company was awarded in the category of Repair and Rework for its HR 550 high performance rework system, and Selective Soldering for the VERSAFLEX selective solder module. The awards were presented to the company during a Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 ceremony that took place at the San Diego Convention Center during the IPC APEX EXPO.

The VERSAFLEX selective solder module offers unlimited flexibility, productivity and uncompromising quality – two solder pots, either y- and x-variable or z-variable, equipped with different solder and different solder nozzles, can work in parallel. With its revolutionary flexibility, the soldering pots are able to move freely in x-, y- and z-direction. Each soldering pot is completely independent and has no y- or x-dependencies to the other one. An anti-collision software ensures the free movement of the servo-driven axis system of the soldering pots.

The HR 550 high performance rework system addresses all users with the highest requirements in terms of precision and process safety in electronic assembly rework applications. The system features a 1,500 W high performance hybrid heating element to desolder and solder SMT components up to 70 x 70 mm. A 2,400 W infrared bottom heater in three heating zones guarantees homogeneous bottom-side preheating of the complete assembly. “We are very pleased to win these awards and will continue to react to the rapid demands of the electronics manufacturing worldwide,” Albrecht Beck, President of Kurtz Ersa North America commented. Premiering in 2008, the NPI Awards program is an annual celebration of product excellence in electronics surface mount assembly. Premier products based on the finest examples of creative advancement in technology are chosen by a distinguished panel of industry experts.


Totech MSL 2.0 Software: In Pursuit of 4.0

Industry 4.0 changes the rules of the game for manufacturing. It holds great promise for significant increases in productivity by connecting machines with information technologies and the Internet.

Companies that use new technologies for Industry 4.0 are more competitive because they produce at lower costs and possess the flexibility to meet wide ranging and quickly changing customer requirements. Industry 4.0 is upon us, and those that are prepared to implement it now will actively shape and lead the change.

Mass customization is a marketing and manufacturing concept that merges the personalization and flexibility of custom-made with the low cost per unit for which mass production is known. The 4.0 environment advances this concept towards reality. With all useful information available at any time, in any location, it is possible to economically produce individualized products in very small batches. Companies that implement Industry 4.0 produce faster, with more flexibility, greater efficiency of material, and reduced complexity and downtime.

This greater efficiency of material often means robotically automated inventory logistics and tracking systems that virtually eliminate manual material handling, and are integrated with enterprise-wide MES and ERP systems. lt has some additional meaning and unique requirements in the production of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) and the management of the inventory involved there. These include not only maintaining the known whereabouts of tens of thousands of devices, but to also track the status of their exposure time to ambient atmosphere. Most individual devices assembled into a PCBA, including often the PCB substrate itself, are susceptible to moisture absorption and have various but specifically limited floor life available before they become a severe risk to elevated temperature processing, the method by which all of the PCBA interconnections are made. During reflow soldering, when temperatures as high as 260°C are applied, excessive moisture (i.e., > 0.1% water weight) that has permeated the components’ hygroscopic encapsulation can escape in sudden bursts, cracking open the packaging and exposing the encapsulated die and its interconnections to permeating oxygen, typically resulting in field failures (often not end-of-line defects).

There are eight different levels of moisture sensitivity, expressed in hours of available floor life ranging from unlimited, to less than 24 hours. It is imperative that floor life exposure be known at all times, in order to prevent moisture induced damage. It is possible to “reset” device floor life by removing the moisture, but it must be done under carefully controlled conditions in order to retain its solder-ability and usefulness. For instance, oxidation and intermetallic growth are both detrimental to the interconnection process and both are induced by high-temperature baking to remove moisture.

The documented management of these issues is critical to avoiding field failures and product liability nightmares. This management is frequently accomplished with fully automated warehouse robotics, as introduced earlier, but also sealed within low humidity environments (<5%). As parts are moved to and from the assembly floor, real-time reporting of the whereabouts and condition (floor life exposure) of each device needs to be available, for optimum inventory utilization and moisture safety. Not all manufacturing businesses feel that they can afford such large-scale automation, or have not yet or will not grow enough to warrant the associated investment. Their MSD management consists of one or many desiccant dry cabinets and heated floor life reset cabinets, which are manually loaded and unloaded. Nonetheless, the key essence of the 4.0 solution is available to them. The same software that tracks and traces devices robotically moved on and off the assembly floor is available for less automated environments as well. Dry storage cabinets can be located at different points across a factory floor, or in different buildings across a manufacturing campus. At any location, operators are able to scan components and PCBs into and out of discrete safe storage cabinets, as well as floor life reset cabinets. The software automatically maintains accurate status of their location and floor life exposure and/or floor life reset status. These various locations can also include ambient atmosphere inventory warehouses storing unlimited floor life devices or components still in their MBBs. Discrete dry cabinets can be networked together, with all operating parameters available for tracking in real time and tracing back in time. This information automation enables manufacturers of any size to comprehensively maintain control of all their component inventory, and particularly their moisture sensitive devices. Whether integrated with existing ERP and MES systems or used in a standalone fashion, real time monitoring and traceability of moisture sensitive inventory helps manufacturers of any size on the path to achieving their 4.0 goals.


ATX - Product innovation MMI Man Machine Interface

ATX specialises in all aspects of fixture technology, providing the ideal equipment for every currently available test system and supporting you with one-stop shopping for all the required services. In addition it is our aim to support you in an even more comprehensive way.

Driven by the requirements of our customers - to safeguard the employees' health and ergonomics at the workplace, and not to exceed the cardiac rate during the operation of the adapter - ATX experts developed a new lever mechanism, which comes up to the highest expectations.

The newly developed lever mechanism, for which registered design status has been applied, is specially adapted to the hand movements of your employees and enables stress-free use by the operator. Working on the adapters guarantees the maintenance of right-angles at the elbows and the knees and so an upright sitting posture is ensured. Furthermore we avoid putting unnecessary stress on arms, shoulders, legs and back.

The MMI creates the optimum conditions for an ergonomic workplace.

See details about the MMI series in the datasheet.


Yamaha Motor Europe has integrated its i-PULSE series

Per 1st January 2017, Yamaha Motor Europe has integrated its i-PULSE series into its portfolio. Thus, Yamaha continues to successfully offer Yamaha Printers, the well-established multifunctional Yamaha YS/YSM and high speed Sigma series pick and place machines and Yamaha 3D AOI and X-Ray inspection machines solutions and is delighted to announce the extension of its portfolio with Yamaha iPulse products range, the mounters models M10, M20, S10 and S20 for Hybrid-mount solution.

Yamaha Motor IM is a subdivision of Yamaha Motor Corporation. Yamaha IM surface mounters are highly acclaimed in the market for their “module concept” that enables them to keep pace with the trend toward smaller and more diverse electric/electronic parts being mounted on circuit boards.

Yamaha Motor IM has created a strong business in the surface mounter industry that enables design and engineering, manufacture, sales and service to be conducted in one comprehensive system. Furthermore, the Company has used ist core technologies in the areas of servo-motor control and image recognition technology for vision (camera) systems to develop solder paste printers, printed circuit board inspection machines, flip chip hybrid placers and dispensers. This allows Yamaha Motor IM to offer a full line of machines for electric/electronic parts mounting and propose optimum production-line makeup to answer the diversifying Needs of today’s manufacturers.

Yamaha Motor IM has sales and service offices in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America and provide a truly global sales and Service network that will safeguard best in class on-site sales & service Support for clients.


CK Nanovate Nickel prolongs the Life of the Stencil

Always striving to stay one step ahead in manufacturing, in particular in view of the continuing miniaturization of components, Christian Koenen GmbH has searched for a new high-tech material for its precision stencils.

In the past few years, research and development in the area of the stencil material was ongoing. Especially the area of nickel proved to be very promising. With CK Nanovate™ nickel, the company has now included a tried-and-tested product from the field of aeronautics in the product range. Before its introduction, extensive tests had been executed in the Application Center. Some customers have also been using the material and test phases producing excellent results are ongoing. In particular, the fine crystalline grain structure and enhanced laser cutting properties of CK Nanovate™ nickel have to be highlighted, producing exceptional paste release properties, which Overall result in increased yields and lower costs. With sharper cutting edges on the printed circuit board, the print deposits are sealed much better. The stencil life is significantly prolonged thanks to improved hardness and ductility. Uneven printed circuit boards will not result in waviness of the stencil.

The new HighTech stencil material CK Nanovate™ Nickel is suitable for special applications and is a good addition to our product portfolio.


Viscom - S3088 ultra gold asserts itself at ELRAD

After an intensive benchmark, the Slovenian company ELRAD International d. o. o. has decided on the Viscom S3088 ultra gold. Among the 3D AOI system's most convincing features were its very high measurement accuracy and first-class image quality.

A well-known 3D AOI supplier also took part in ELRAD's 3D AOI benchmark. After intensive tests and comprehensive evaluations, the 3D AOI solution from Viscom clearly asserted its strengths. Better resolution and top reliability were the primary convincing features of the S3088 ultra gold. The Viscom system also scored points with its highly advanced possibilities for 3D measurement.

Martin Znidaric, AOI process specialist at ELRAD: "The three-dimensional display and measurement values generated by the Viscom system are simply superb. This is the ideal choice, especially given our high requirements for inspecting LEDs." In the company's Slovenian factory in Gornja Radgona, the S3088 ultra gold employed by ELRAD inspects electronic assemblies populated with LEDs, which are used in vehicle headlights and taillights. "These LEDs must be exactly positioned with accuracy down to a few micrometers and must not tilt at all," explains Simon Jug, head of technology at ELRAD. A special 3D measurement in the production line ensures these conditions are met for an internationally positioned automotive company. As the experienced users at ELRAD see it,the S3088 ultra gold from Viscom was the only choice for this task.

ELRAD develops and manufactures high-quality control electronics for tools, household appliances, automobiles and other application areas in Slovenia, Serbia and China. The advanced technological development and miniaturization were yet another reason calling for acquisition of a new 3D AOI system last year.

Photo f.l.t.r.: AOI process specialist Martin Znidaric and head of technology Simon Jug from ELRAD International d. o. o. together with sales engineer Nikola Vujanovic from Stepan GmbH, who processed the sale of the Viscom S3088 ultra gold system.


Feinmetall - RF Contacting of Switch Connectors

Our new probe series HF66 has been developed for reliable contacting of SMD-soldered RF mini connectors like for example switch connectors or coaxial cable connectors. The special probe design makes sure that probe and DUT are well aligned in a large centering range.

For reliable contacting of SMD assembled RF mini connectors like e.g. the switch connectors SWD, SWF, SWG, SWH, SWJ (female) and the coaxial cable connectors HSC, JSC, KSC, LSC, GSC (male) Feinmetall has developed the new product family HF66. The special design of these contact probes allow an optimal alignment with the connector and a large centering range of +/- 0.4 mm to compensate certain variations of the DUT position. The frequency characteristic of the contact probe series HF66 is optimized for frequencies up to 6GHz.

For different mounting requirements the probes have been developed in different design variants. For example, the probes are available either as a plug-in or a threaded version, or alternatively, they are equipped with a flange that enables optimal fixing in many cases. The connection to the tester side is realized by standard SMA or mini-SMP connectors.

With this new probe series and further new developments Feinmetall shows a strong focus on radio frequency applications. The main customer segments for these solutions are manufacturers of smart communication and control modules in different industries. The new RF contacts ideally complement the existing Feinmetall contact solutions for standard connectors like SMA, SMB, SMC und HSD.


New partner: VisiConsult

VisiConsult developed the first automated component estimation (ACE) system that makes a prior type selection obsolete. This decreases the handling time and leads to robust counting results.

The consequence is that even new types can be processed by the system if a similar type is already implemented in the type database. The system will just detect the similarity and automatically use the best solution. In case of a completely new type a warning is shown and a trained supervisor can usually teach this new type in less than 15 minutes into the system database. With every new type the system efficiency increases.

Today, mass-market electronics are manufactured almost exclusively on high-erformance assembly machines. Time is literally money. Therefore, two aspects are of particular importance: maximum quantities and minimum changeover time. When it comes to the necessity of counting components before or after the assembly progress most manufacturers are still using the old-fashioned approach of manual counting devices.


New partner: PVA

World Class Dispensing, Coating and Custom Automation: when precision matters, manufacturers around the globe rely on PVA's conformal coating systems, fluid dispensing solutions and custom automation products.

For 20 years, PVA has been making manufacturing easier with customer driven solutions used in industries ranging from solar, semiconductor packaging, printed circuit board assembly, medical device manufacturing, and consumer electronics. From benchtop equipment, to inline conveyer systems, we evaluate each opportunity independently, and without limitation, to ensure you make the most reliable product possible.
Headquartered in Upstate New York, with regional sites stationed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, all PVA Systems are backed by a 24-hour global service network, including regionally trained technicians for fast response times.


Totech

New partner: TOTECH

We are pleased to offer you from now on innovative and versatile products of Totech.

It offers a variety of different cabinets for all different applications.
Talk to us - we will find the right solution for the best storage of your products.


New partner: IPTE

After our long term partner Mühlbauer Traceability GmbH (former Rommel) has set the end of 2015 with the operation we are glad to present you with IPTE a replacement and an alternative.

We could offer immediately following IPTE products and look forward to your inquiries.

  • Loader and unloader
  • Transport units
  • Buffer units
  • Depaneling units
  • Scan units
  • Marking units
  • Selective wire soldering