Time to look at what's hot in test
07 April 2006
Test strategies are being put to the test in our brave new lead-free era, but all equipment needs to have the right balance of capability and cost. Kaisertech is launching two new systems at Nepcon aimed at finding this balance for many manufacturers.
Automatic optical inspection (AOI) is becoming increasingly important for a number of reasons, according to equipment supplier Kaisertech. For instance smaller components are difficult to inspect manually and high-density boards pose similar problems. Add these factors to the critical need for lead-free solder joint inspection plus increasing quality demands from customers then the case for high quality AOI becomes clear.
The ViTechnology Vi-1K bench top AOI unit is the company's first venture into compact systems and is based on the technology the company has supplied to major blue chip manufacturers since 1996. These include companies in the automotive, telecoms, computer, military, aerospace and consumer electronics markets.
Key to the Vi-1K is its very solid construction, weighing in at 250kg in a unit with a 1.2m x 900mm footprint, and mechanical specification that includes linear motor drives for its X-Y axis. In addition its CAD-driven vectoral imaging is based on systems used in much larger more costly equipment. A 1376 x 1040 pixel camera is used and a three-colour lighting system can work in axial and peripheral directions.
The Vi-1K can be used post reflow
For high-mix, low-volume manufacturing with PCBs up to 508 x 458mm and determines the presence and absence of components, confirms their value and polarity, checks solder joints and bridges and provides feedback on X, Y, theta deviation.
Another aspect of test is simulating the effects of temperature and humidity on components and assemblies. Once the preserve of high tech industries such as defence and aerospace these testing technique have become widely relevant with the growth of sophistication and broader use of electronics in all walks of life.
Binder environmental test chambers are well established in the medical and pharmaceutical industries and are now entering the electronics industry with Kaisertech. The MKF climatic test chambers have been developed for future-oriented environmental simulation and dynamic climate testing based on DIN and IEC standards.
The required temperature and humidity values can be attained rapidly and maintained accurately, even under extreme conditions. Moreover, alternating climatic conditions can be created resulting in conditions that allow reproducible and comparable quality statements.
A special feature of the Binder design is chamber preheating. This offers a number of user advantages including high temperature accuracy and homogeneity throughout the test area, precise and reproducible conditions throughout the usable chamber space and uniform airflow.
A typical unit is the MKF 240, which has a 240-litre capacity and a temperature range from -40 to +180øC. Its cooling system is designed for fast changing conditions and condensation protection is standard. Average cooling down times are 3.5K/min and heating 4.5K/min.
The resistance-heated humidification system has advantages over a system with dew point control. These include rapid humidification with short setting times, particularly with high humidity, no droplet formation and freedom from residues and microorganisms.
In addition the unit's capacitive humidity measuring system, with its industrial quality sensor, provides advantages over a conventional, psychometric humidity measuring system with wet stocking. Namely these are no maintenance, long-term stability, drift-free and precise and rapid measurement of the humidity content.
Contact Details and Archive...
Related Articles...
Most Viewed Articles...