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???
09/19/12 07:29
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 		 #188396 - vacuum pick and place tool
Responding to: ???'s previous message
Joseph Hebert said:
and I can tell you that for prototype assembly, you'll be much better off mounting a vacuum pickup tube (with a knob to move it up and down) under a microscope and just aligning the board to the parts manually. I found that for the smallest parts (0805s, the CP2102) scaling the tube down to a needle diameter is necessary to accommodate viewing the alignment.


Figured I would share my recent discovery for hand vacuum pick and place. It has worked amazingly well, and is much faster than using tweezers like I had for years.

The basic idea is to hack a cheap aquarium air pump into a vacuum pump.
http://garage-shoppe.com/wordpress/?p=109

I then went to an auto parts store and got the cheapest GM EGR solenoid they had (~$20USD). The solenoid takes 12v to either vent the vacuum line to atmosphere, or allow the vacuum to go to the pick up tool. A simple foot switch turns the solenoid on or off.

For the hand tool, I got a basic 12mL medical syringe (look at animal feed stores; used for injecting vaccines & medicines), removed the plunger, then cut a hole in and ran the vacuum line through the black rubber seal that was formerly on the plunger. Different sized tips were made from various size injection needles squared off, then (carefully!) bent to a ~45* angle.

So for ~$50, I can now pick up 0402 components directly from the tape strip (no more dumping them out and turning then right side up again), and with a tip change, can pick up 32QFNs and larger. Then the board goes in the reflow toaster oven, and comes out a few minutes later all done. My assembly process is MUCH faster now :)

-Dave

List of 74 messages in thread
TopicAuthorDate
CNC            01/01/70 00:00      
   Enjoy :)            01/01/70 00:00      
      Having fun            01/01/70 00:00      
   Congratulations            01/01/70 00:00      
      We looked at buying one of those            01/01/70 00:00      
         Me Either!            01/01/70 00:00      
            We use a variety            01/01/70 00:00      
               do not be lazy,Mr.Smith            01/01/70 00:00      
               prototype cost and turnaround            01/01/70 00:00      
                  I'll find the ads            01/01/70 00:00      
                     googled            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Ebay deal            01/01/70 00:00      
                           What about this one then...            01/01/70 00:00      
                              Follow up on prototype board shops            01/01/70 00:00      
                                 international pcb houses            01/01/70 00:00      
                                    PCB Houses            01/01/70 00:00      
            working out of town            01/01/70 00:00      
      CNC bits            01/01/70 00:00      
         answering            01/01/70 00:00      
            it happens            01/01/70 00:00      
               what other tools required?            01/01/70 00:00      
                  a new trick zeroing Z axis            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Z ref            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Collet type            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Z axis reference            01/01/70 00:00      
                           Vacuum            01/01/70 00:00      
               this sort of thing happens often, from my experience            01/01/70 00:00      
                  ctrl+A, crtl+C, submit            01/01/70 00:00      
         tools            01/01/70 00:00      
            holding the PCB            01/01/70 00:00      
               Holding the PCB            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Carbon steel?            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Not tungsten carbide            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Just carbide is a bit lazy slang for tungsten carbide            01/01/70 00:00      
                           If you say so.            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Plate through holes            01/01/70 00:00      
                     plating holes            01/01/70 00:00      
                     plated through holes cont.            01/01/70 00:00      
                  2 point registration system            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Need not be exactly in middle.            01/01/70 00:00      
                        is it that simple?            01/01/70 00:00      
                     2-pin registration            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Fine pitch milling            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Solder Mask            01/01/70 00:00      
                           solder mask and legend            01/01/70 00:00      
                              too much work            01/01/70 00:00      
                                 Much work            01/01/70 00:00      
                                    My CNC            01/01/70 00:00      
                                       Is That...            01/01/70 00:00      
                                       which cad did you use?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          Limit Switches            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             Will do            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Little Plates            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             MEchanical limit switches            01/01/70 00:00      
                                       Your project            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          This:            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             very cool!            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             Funnel            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Funnel !            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   Lawyer or Solicitor - Not ! !            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      RIght            01/01/70 00:00      
                                    vacuum pick and place tool            01/01/70 00:00      
            90 degrees bits            01/01/70 00:00      
               Z-axis depth control            01/01/70 00:00      
                  stepper             01/01/70 00:00      
                     z-axis control            01/01/70 00:00      
   oiling            01/01/70 00:00      
      lubrication            01/01/70 00:00      
      Lube            01/01/70 00:00      
         ballscrews            01/01/70 00:00      
            Ballscrews            01/01/70 00:00      
               Sometimes it's useful for controlling dynamics            01/01/70 00:00      
            ballscrews & table slides            01/01/70 00:00      
   LINUXCNC            01/01/70 00:00      

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