Re: pick 'n' place machines (was: OT 0805 resistor noise)

On Wed, 7 Sep 2005 11:11:56 -0700, "Walter Harley"
<walterh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:m43uh1taqmhdqgt6nr2okgvgb3r5c79148@xxxxxxxxxx
>> [...]
>> We have a very nice semi-automatic p&p, made in Switzerland! I think
>> it cost $25,000 or so. I'll look up the model when I get to work. My
>> guys just did my new VME prototype board on it; it took about 3 hours
>> to place 1050 parts on a very dense board.
>
>
>How does setup work for p&p machines? Do you feed it Gerbers or something,
>along with telling it what part numbers are on what reel? Or is the p&p
>setup completely separate from the PCB layout process?
>


Our semi-automatic (made by Essemtec) has a PC that spins the parts
carousel and guides the operator to pick up and place the parts. We
get a file from PADS that has the part locations, and we run a Basic
program to reformat and tweak the data for the p&p. PADS coordinates
are usually pin 1, and generally have to be offset to part-center for
placement.

Most of the parts are loose, in little triangular bins around a
replacable lazy-susan sort of thing. After we set up for a board, we
usually keep that carousel loaded for future use. We keep a few common
parts, like bypass caps, on a few reel feeders on the side. I could
post a pic to abse, maybe.

Works great. Out first proto of this new board is working, three
working days after we got the first stuffed board. It was perfect:
1050 parts, two FPGAs, 3000 lines of code so far, runs right, and
still untouched by a soldering iron.

John


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