Essemtec Machine - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2020, 02:05:51 pm
content: This just appeared in my inbox, seems like the kind of thing some people here might want.. machine is nothing to do with me, usual Essemtec caveats apply (spares can be expensive) but otherwise this was one of their lower end machines somewhere around 2010 think XV would mean it had a fixed upward looking camera as well as the std laser align on the fly.Quote

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2020, 04:27:05 pm
content: Before buying my second P&P (A Quad QSA-30A, made by Samsung), I looked at a bunch of other machines. Essemtec looked pretty good, there was a guy near me with a couple, but there was something about it that put me off. Might have been limited number of feeders or something. They sure were compact.Even though I went through HELL getting my bargain-basement machine running, one GREAT thing about the Samsung/Quad QSA is there are a WHOLE LOT of related machines in the far East, so repair parts are plentiful. I got feeders for $65 - $80 each, and repair boards and cameras forabout $150 each.Jon

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2020, 09:14:43 am
content: Oh I agree, if you don't need the tiny size and ability to run from a wall socket, there is no beating the more widespread/popular models when they get a bit older. Nobody makes knockoff nozzles for an Essemtec, they have changed their feeder design in multiple ways over the years in a way that is not interchangeable even when it looks like it should be, new spares can be overpriced (but not always).Buying new is different, because the sums work differently, our bigger Essemtec was ~30% cheaper than say an iPulse , software for an end user was streets ahead, servicing costs were lower and because we run it "offline" its has a massive potential feeder count as well as being able to share the place area with trays. To go inline we would need 2 "conventional" machines to be compatible with some of the work we do on one offline machine. In some applications this stays true for a smaller Essemtec like the Pantera but you actually need quite a small PCB to be able share that space with a tray in that instance.

author: pan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 10:15:59 am
content: Hi,This is a rather old thread, but I'll try a post here instead of starting a new one.I have been offered a used Paraquda 4c with lot's of different sized feeders (CLM type). Because of this I have tried to figure out feeder and nozzle cost. I have also tried to find availability and cost of a calibration kit. I contacted the closest dealer I know of, but they wrote that they are too busy to answer.. I also wrote directly to Essemtec (twice) to ask regarding the calibration kit, but so far very quiet. I have already spent too much time on this, but I am curious what I am doing wrong. I am trying to be polite in my communication.Do anyone here know if it is possible to buy a calibration kit? And what is the price? I got some hints here about the feeder and nozzle cost. I suspect I need the HyQ feeder for smaller than 0402?Also, do anyone know about good/serious/responsive dealers?Or maybe I should just walk away and go for the Hanwha to complement my line?

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 11:04:57 am
content: Quote from: pan on April 13, 2022, 10:15:59 amRoughly speaking €400 per nozzle or something like €4k for a "starter set" which includes nozzles for 0402 up IIRC. Possibly slightly more for specialist nozzles (melf, LED etc) which are semi-custom. They are made in two parts (plastic with a metal tip) but they won't sell you anything but the whole thing.I suspect they would be resistant to selling you the calibration kit (I think the engineer said it was 4-5k), in the manual they mark that entire section of engineer visit only although it is somewhat detailed. By default they spec the machine to come with part of the calibration kit, consisting of two metal plates that calibrate the cameras. I've never used them myself and I have never seen the engineer use them except as part of a process that requires the massive glass plate that is the main calibration kit. In the UK it costs us ~£1400 for a full service that includes calibration and takes pretty much an entire day.CLM feeders can do 2mm pitch tape (by advancing 4mm and picking twice) and they do claim down to 01005, this might be true if they are kept spotlessly clean and flawlessly maintained but while you can certainly do everything in a service yourself, CLM feeders are crazy complicated and they definitely IMHO show their age. I also don't think they are capable of handling things in shallow plastic tape at the 0201 level like tiny LEDs or ESD diodes, there's just a little too much jerk and bounce and precious little control - although there are settings you can program into the feeder buried in the "hidden" menu that might help if someone explained them all.

author: pan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 11:45:54 am
content: Thank you for a good and detailed answer!I understand now why they would be reluctant to sell me the calibration kit, but they could have just spelled it out. Would do something with the overall confidence. I was just trying to get as much info as possible with regards to current and future investment/cost of the machine.I believe the used machine is in very good condition. It has not been used for a couple of years due to a merge. Upgraded to latest head. New touch screen. Windows 10 etc. Includes 10-15 nozzles. Serviced every year since new.

author: pan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 01:06:36 pm
content: How are the CLM feeders to work with (load new tape etc)?

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 02:10:49 pm
content: They do have their merits, they are quite good with strips if you work in those volumes as the feeder exposes/wastes no components between pullback and exposed pocket. If you do ever need to work with strips in exact qty's you need to add a little bit of footer tape to stop the loose cover tape at the end wrapping around a neighboring lane and causing problems and to keep the last pocket from springing up. Standard cover extension tape is just about long enough but only just about, life would be much easier if it were 5CM longer.To load, you flick up the retaining lever, put the tape in the slot, lock it down and then pull the cover tape back to the take off spool at the rear and wind it round that.The take off spool is two FR4 discs, one with teeth, held together with a magnet and a nylon spacer. Between those discs and the Nylon spacer/spool is a sheet of Teflon. The Teflon sheet wears out over time and needs replacing (sold as a consumable in packs of 10), when it does the spool will bind and literally drop all your parts on the floor as well as creating a cloud of black sooty dust from the two magnetic surfaces rubbing against each other (this is bad). This means the spool need frequent cleaning and inspection, when any part of the spool assembly fails you have to buy the whole thing as a replacement for about €70 IIRC. The nylon spacer has a slot in it that holds a small set of metal teeth, this is another point of failure and at some point the spacer will crack open here and loose its teeth.A new CLM Feeder is €7k or maybe more, for 10x8mm and the price roughly scales with the number of lanes IIRC. In the UK the former Distributor will "refurb" and sell 2nd user ones for about 50% of the new cost. CLM feeders for Paraquda are NOT the same as CLM feeders for FLX, they have extra LED indicators and a different control board, the older ones can be upgraded to be compatible.Essemtec/Distribution would offer an owner an absolute pittance for a used machine, perhaps less that €15k with a feeder package before "refurbing" it for sale at 4-5 times that. This is something to bear in mind when evaluating what someone is asking for a 2nd user one direct, the last Paraqudas I saw for sale in the UK were replaced by Hanwhas and were quite hard to sell, I'm told they went to Europe. ( This isn't supposition, I asked)You could try connecting to and asking Klaus Salmhofer on LinkedIn if you are not getting a response from sales, he might be able to tell you if they would sell you a cal kit. They also used to list refurbished stock on the Essemtec website, its possible they still have those now but leave it to distribution to sell/promote. However based on some of the pricing I have seen historically I bet a new Hanwha would be a better buy in that instance.

author: pan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 02:43:18 pm
content: Thanks again! That is just very good information.Well, since I feel I have been meeting a lot of closed doors I am getting a little bit frustrated. Without good support I would end up with some expensive metal which is out of the question.A part of me is just saying skip it and go Hanwha, but on the other side this would complement the line very nicely without spending too much. It would also buy me some valuable time.I live not so very far from you; only the north sea between us. I will follow up on your lead on LinkedIn.

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 03:28:51 pm
content: Looks like you get Contax over there, no idea who you'd kick there. The current distribution/support over here is with Altus and I have a baffling array of contact for spares, servicing, accounts and sales, so I tend to default to pestering their bossor going direct to the engineer...Its possible that Contax no longer gels with Essemtecs USP and so are giving it less attention than they should. Prior to Altus, the 2 before were to my knowledge finding it harder to sell Essemtec than they had been or were expecting to. Going from what I can see on LinkedIn Altus are focused VERY heavily on the one machine does everything if you fit dispensing to it, that's actually quite expensive and incredibly niche. Very handy if you do small high value batches of say missile control systems *cough* or run it in "the lab" sodding useless to normal assemblers as its so much slower than dedicated stencil printers. I very much doubt I would come up with an Essemtec decision today based on todays machines and todays requirements. Although I would buy a properly priced 2nd user one for immediate requirement given I'm already familiar with the ecosystem.

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2022, 10:58:52 am
content: brain fart. These guyshttp://cynergy.dk/essemtec/might have some knowledge on servicing a Paraquda and may be competitive with DIY or Essemtecs own

author: pan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2022, 02:28:31 pm
content: Quite funny actually. I sent an email to them earlier today as part of an ongoing discussion about Hanwha. However a different website, but same person. No problem getting proper answers. Creates much more confidence and trust.I did'nt know. It does'nt hurt to ask, but I suspect he is more interested in Hanwha these days.