Improvised SMT pick'n place machine
EMC linux, program written in G-code.
No cameras or other feedback sensors.
No rotation of components (PCB was rotated instead).
Manual nozzle change.
Aprox. 300-400 parts/hour (very slow!)
Provided tons of good information for "real thing"... and was FUN!
hmm... rotating carousel of parts, pick and place putting them on a belt feeder from the carousel, then only needing to go to one spot to get the next one... perhaps would be faster.
felderup 3 months ago
@felderup interesting... It's allways nice to hear ideas different than mainstream ones.
sigicnc 3 months ago
Hi! Great project! do you plan releasing your programs sources or developing a free software to generate g-code programs for arbitrary pcbs and placement configurations? I can help with that as I am too interested in conversion of my cnc into an smt machine!
realgrandrew 6 months ago
@realgrandrew Glad you like it. I didn't plan to make some user friendly programs or hardware for general usage, but there was so many feedback with ideas, questions and suggestions on this project that I am now working on next step. I will add component rotation and pin for tape advancing, on the same (slow) mill, to get more information (and headache...) about complete setup.
If you like, I can send you g-code that runs on this video, if it is of any help to you. Just let me know.
Have fun!
sigicnc 6 months ago
How long is your setup time for a new project?
gushhnet 11 months ago
@gushhnet 4-5 hours for board seen on video (340SMDs). This includes "dry test" and some fine (manual) tunning for QFP chip. Too much time to be efficient for any real job. But once again, this was only one-shot test, not convenient at all, and I don't plan to use that configuration again without some improvements.
sigicnc 11 months ago