Pick and Place Machine : 5 Steps
Pick and Place Machine : 5 Steps
The day before the machine arrived I got an from Kim Liu at Charmhigh. This included links to videos in YouTube. These videos, and some from Jerry Walker, prepared me to set up the machine. I had already downloaded the manual and studied it before buying, and I reviewed it again as I set up the machine.
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Other than removing cable ties and foam packing from the machine, there is little to do to prepare it. Two cables connect to a computer, a laptop in my case. Software is provided on a USB memory stick. I didn't have any trouble connecting, loading software and running diagnostics.
Charmhigh recommends placing the machine on a sturdy surface. I placed mine on an old oak dining table that I had modified with piano casters. The casters allow me to get to all sides of the machine if I need to, and roll it against the wall to save space. The casters also help to absorb some of the motion of the table when the machine is running.
Next I loaded my reels. There is a video that shows how. For my first board I needed only 4 reels and an IC tray for the CPU.
I didn't have an IC tray to mount with the included hardware. Instead, I designed one and 3D printed it. The bed of the machine has a pattern of M5 threaded holes and I designed the tray so I could easily fasten it to the bed.
The PCB clamp slides along some rods and springs hold the PCB in place. For small boards, it's a good idea to place a spare board at the right side to ensure that the PCB clamp remains square. Otherwise, the right spring will push against the clamp and cant it at an angle. (See 3rd picture.)
With the hardware and supplies all set to go, the machine needs to be programmed. You have to define the layout of the board, the location and size of the reeled parts to be mounted, and the location and size of parts in the IC tray, if any. There is also a feature that lets you populate multiple boards, which is referred to as a batch.
There are 2 ways to do the programming. One method starts with an extract file from your board design software. The Jerry Walker videos show in depth how to do this. With only eight parts per board, I chose to set up the program manually. The Charmhigh videos show how to do this.
How SMT Pick and Place Machine Works?
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Component Feeding: The pick and place machine is equipped with a system of feeders that hold the electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, ICs, and connectors. These feeders can be tape feeders, tray feeders, or bulk feeders depending on the component type and packaging.
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Component Recognition: The pick and place machine utilizes vision systems and sensors to identify and locate the components in the feeders. This involves capturing images, analyzing patterns, and using algorithms to determine the position, orientation, and dimensions of each component.
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PCB Alignment: The PCB is positioned on the machine's work area, typically on a conveyor or a dedicated fixture. The pick and place machine uses alignment mechanisms, such as fiducial marks or optical sensors, to precisely position the PCB in the correct orientation.
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Component Pickup: Once the machine has identified the components and aligned the PCB, it employs a robotic arm or gantry system with vacuum nozzles or specialized tools to pick up the components from the feeders. The selection of the appropriate tool and nozzle depends on the component type, size, and handling requirements.
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Component Placement: The robotic arm moves the component to the designated location on the PCB. The machine uses the vision system and precision controls to align the component with the correct solder pads or mounting locations on the PCB.
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Component Placement Verification: After the component is placed, the pick and place machine often employs vision systems or sensors to verify the accuracy of the placement. This helps detect any misalignment or defects in real-time and ensures the component is correctly seated on the PCB.
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Repeat Process: The pick and place machine repeats the above steps for each component on the PCB, working in a sequential or simultaneous manner depending on the machine's capabilities. This process is highly automated and can handle hundreds or thousands of components per minute, depending on the machine's speed and complexity.
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Soldering: Once all components are placed on the PCB, it is typically transferred to a separate process, such as an SMT reflow oven, where the solder paste is melted to create reliable electrical connections between the components and the PCB.
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A pick and place machine is a robotic assembly system used in the surface mount technology (SMT) process to accurately place electronic components onto a printed circuit board (PCB). Here's a general overview of how a pick and place machine works:
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