Yestech(nordson) AOI all you whant to knot and mod - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Alphatronique
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 12:41:11 am
content: I ran into multiple problems that pushed me to learn a lot.If it helps someone, here are my findings 😉Starting with the old Yestech F1 — a 2000 lbs beast running Windows XP (some very rare units run Windows 7) — the first thing to know is that the PC software is locked with a Rainbow dongle.So if it comes without a PC, it’s basically a big, heavy paperweight. Same if the HDD is wiped, since the Yestech software relies on a custom version of Matrox Imaging software, which also requires a license (not sure if it's node-locked or dongle-based). I was never able to reinstall the Matrox part.the XP matrox imaging software not work whit Win7 ,it need a newer version and of cource new license ....The last version I’ve seen is 2.83b, which works on Windows XP and Windows 7. After that, Nordson bought Yestech and replaced the software entirely.As for hardware, it uses Technic motor drives controlled via the PC’s parallel port 😬 along with some custom-made USB cameras (just a bare PCB).One of the problems is that the PC sometimes mixes up the cameras 🤦The PCB conveyor system seems to have a mind of its own and works when it feels like it 😅On the bright side, all software parameters are controlled by multiple .ini files — which opens the door to some hacking possibilities. I’ll cover more on that in a future post 🤓After a lot of problems with the F1 — like conveyor issues and gantry motors going crazy — and getting tired of Windows XP, I eventually ended up buying an M1 model 😄

author: Alphatronique
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 01:29:25 am
content: Let’s start with the fun part 😎I found and bought a like-new Nordson M1 that had only run for 3000 hours.Nobody wanted to touch that machine for two reasons:The M1 variant was built for wire bonding and microcircuit inspection, a very limited market. Users in that field usually only buy new equipment with full support.Since the machine is built for microscopic inspection, it has a field of view of less than 10 mm, which makes it unsuitable for standard PCB inspection.All that allowed me to get the machine at a very reasonable price 😄Since that machine runs Windows 7, my first idea was to swap the PC with my old F1.But due to the smaller footprint and better build quality of the M1, I decided to try a camera lens swap instead.I noticed that in some old datasheets, Yestech had planned two versions: one for microcircuits and one for standard PCBs.so this let me clue that is doable to try a conversion by manipulate .ini dataIn the first version of the mod, I replaced the long microscopic objective with a 50mm lens + 10mm extender from the F1 machine.Then, in the multiple .ini config files, I found the pixel size settings in video.ini.I measured the field of view whit the cal board (what the camera sees), divided it by the number of pixels, and got this: 😄Cam0PixelSizeX=10.127Cam0PixelSizeY=10.194;Cam0PixelSizeX=3.986;Cam0PixelSizeY=3.924I also had to change a value in SysSpec.dat — this is only required for the calibration to show "PASS", as it checks against expected values.After a while, I wasn’t happy with the sharpness of the image, so I bought a better lens that matched the camera’s resolution:a Keyence CA-LHR50 f=50mm / F2.8 lens.Unfortunately, it no longer fit the original bracket — so I made a new custom one 😄And bingo: perfect image! The machine worked and was even able to fully calibrate.now i whait to finish desing of final bracketEven though the M1's conveyor works better than the F1’s, it still has a few glitches 🤷some F1 machine detail ..work on Windows 7 same software as the F1 machine yestesch only update the matrox parttechnic motor drive is no longer drived by printer portthe general buil is mutch better ,since it build for microscopic use all system is precise machined partthe fusion lighting work good , need some time to figure how to set itnext project a Faxitron/bioptic X-ray machinep.s. typo fix by chat GPT . english is not my natural language ;-)