Pics of the SMD dispenser I've been working on... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2015, 08:33:58 pm
content: Hi Everyone,It was going to have 16 "channels" for 8mm wide tape, but the piece of MDF I had was not wide enough so it ended up with 14. I cut this on a CNC. All channels are cut 2mm deep and 8.5mm wide. With some thinner tapes like resistors I'm using a few layers of double stick tape with the smooth top liner left on to reduce the 2mm to a smaller height that keeps the tape from have a gap under it. That gap and a little pressure creates a spring like effect and can knock parts out of the tape so it is worth eliminating with the double stick tape. The three bars at the top allow feeding the plastic over the first, under the second, and the third puts the tape in the channel. I did put a 1/4" piece of aluminum on bearings in the sides after seeing something similar on eBay made of all metal, but the tapes slide so well that it doesn't spin so I don't know that that was necessary. I'm going to make another one with half 12mm and half 16mm channels, then I should be in good shape. I'm going to use a vacuum pen to pull the parts out of the extraction area.Thanks,Alan

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2015, 08:40:21 pm
content: Hey that looks pretty good!Are you building a rework station or running small quantity builds or something?

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2015, 08:48:49 pm
content: That looks really good! Great job!Sent from my Tablet

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2015, 09:27:09 pm
content: Thanks guys; I appreciate the feedback. I build about 10 boards a month for various things.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 01:56:35 am
content: Nicely done!It looks like you could make the distance between the slots smaller and get more strips on the same area.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 02:08:36 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on September 06, 2015, 01:56:35 amThanks!Quote from: robrenz on September 06, 2015, 01:56:35 amI tried to leave a little space for the sides of each reel as well, they take up space in addition to the tape width.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 02:12:15 am
content: Quote from: alank2 on September 06, 2015, 02:08:36 amI forgot about the reel width. Duh!

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 03:18:53 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on September 06, 2015, 02:12:15 amI can't believe I remembered to allow for it before cutting my first one. Usually I go through all the work only to discover something like that AFTER the item was cut!

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 10:39:36 am
content: Also if you made the MDF remainder ridges much narrower, they could just break off. MDF is not a very strong material, especially the inner bulk.Nice idea.Perhaps add a flip-up dust cover for the exposed tape section?2nd ddd: And then the flipped up cover would give you a surface for stick-on/slide-in labels, for what each reel is. As it is now, when your row is full you'll be constantly counting from the end to find the right component. And sometimes missing.Unless you have really good eyesight and can read the tiny values easily.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 12:31:43 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on September 06, 2015, 10:39:36 amThis is a good idea.Quote from: TerraHertz on September 06, 2015, 10:39:36 amI'm going to try to use the front edge for small labels, I can read most of the parts unless they are unlabeled.