Small Volume Paste Printer? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2015, 11:56:55 pm
content: Someone showed me a video the other day of a MY600 Solder Paste Jet Printer. It was doing an awesome job, of "printing" pasteI then found some other videos of some dispensing heads...Im guessing the MY data is well out of my league, but wondering if a smaller / slower machine might be lurking somewhere...

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2015, 12:30:37 pm
content: problem is jet printers are limited by the solder paste grade.Other rotary screw pump pumps are limited by minimum volume of paste they can deliver.In the end a stencil is it seems simplest option. I have gone through this exercise and least expensive rotary screw pump is in the order of USD2.5K plus machine frame ( XYZ robot).In the end I opted for a frameless stencil printer.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2015, 10:46:33 pm
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 28, 2015, 12:30:37 pmI've got a pretty so-so-so printer at the moment, and i coupled it with a so called frameless "quickframe". The results are ok, but its stencil storage, cleaning etc that all takes time. THe cost of stencils these days are low, $80 a shot or so for a good laser cut stencil ex china. I do need to buy a new printer as the time taken to align my boards is forever and it gets worse on the flip side of the board. What did you end up buying?Thishttp://www.techconsystems.com/en/dispensing-valves/fluid-dispensing-valves/rotary-valves/interchangeable-material-path-imp-rotary-valve-ts7000/and the ts5000 are both listed as suitable excellent for applying solder paste.O

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 02:13:54 pm
content: I had considered the two valves You mention. But the minimum volume they can dispense is more than required for an 0402 component and so i decided to go with 0.1mm (0.004") stainless stencil in these low volume cases.Otherwise i make my own from 0.2mm fr4 laminate. I find reducing pad s to 70% dimensions will give reasonable volume of paste on larger pads.Its the 70% scaling factor which precludes me from making ( milling ) the stencils in 0.2mm for smaller footprints.I'll have o get back to You on the frameless printer.. Purchased from the manufacturer in Holland.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 07:22:43 pm
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 29, 2015, 02:13:54 pmThey claim"Dot size as small as 0.010” (0.254mm) can be dispensed consistently. "0402 pads are about .5 x .5mm? what i am missing.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 10:08:34 pm
content: Area of a dot is on thing... but more importantly the volume is quite another.This is where there are questions to be resolved such as needle height variations, temperature of the head and paste, consistency of the paste and grade of paste.I also had a look at GPD ( general production devices inc. ) offering and decided to go with a screen printer for the time being.I purchased a frameless screen printer from a dutch manufacturer shim dimensions 270mm x 380mm for a maximum PCB size of 355x255mm. Model umber SD360/U.Other sizes available.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 03:54:14 am
content: The Mydata people obvsiouly have this problem solved, people are raving about the new MY600. Pity its $250k and a bit out side of my price range.I coud'nt find any reference to the volume of solder paste that was being printed, but i woudl have though this was a function of how far the auger rotated. with a fine pitch auger and a very short turn, the volume should be able to be tuned to nearly zero?

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 07:32:57 am
content: The auger is a major component but the final arbiter of solder paste volume is the solder paste grade.Here in Australia it would be impractical to rely on vendors to have the correct grade of solder paste to hand dictated by something like the jet printer.The shelf life of the paste must be taken into consideration when stocking it for future use.At the moment, I think, stencil is the way to go.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 09:11:51 am
content: Yes, that is, but if you think it bad in Oz, try over here. but it only 24-36 hours from the US, and i get paste flown in now.( Becuase the distys who look after AU and NZ just want to charge massively large margins ).Stencils are ok, ( and its what we are used to ) but i just think its possible.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 11:31:38 am
content: It is possible to dispensed paste but 0402 becomes a challenge.Think about 0402 footprint. calculate pad area. Calculate the volume of a layer of solder paste 0.1mm thick n top of the pad.Now think whether the pad needs to be covered fully and just how much of it needs to be covered for a good joint ( the Goldilocks solder dollop).Readjust the volume of paste and ask equipment manufacturers what is their smallest six sigma dollop they can dispense and under what realistic conditions.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 10:55:47 pm
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 30, 2015, 11:31:38 amDid'nt expect it to be easy! However the MY-data folks seem to have it sorted out so they can do 0201. So its doable. I do note that they are pretty specific on the paste that has to be used, and its important its at the right tempterture as well. Forutnatly there are several amnaufacturers making it, and its not so expensive. I suspect that the amount of waste from teh printer would be signifincatly less than stenciling. ( seems theres always more paste left over than what is on the boards! Its just the nature of the beast some times i guess.Quoteabout 0.013mm3, a pretty small volume. ( assuming a .5 x .6mm pad, 70% reduction )Now think whether the pad needs to be covered fully and just how much of it needs to be covered for a good joint ( the Goldilocks solder dollop).Readjust the volume of paste and ask equipment manufacturers what is their smallest six sigma dollop they can dispense and under what realistic conditions.will do. theres certainly some questons to ask.