Opinions: Is this a marketable product? Manual SMD feeders. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2021, 04:39:06 pm
content: For small one-offs, prototypes, hobbyists, etc., there is always hand SMD assembly to do. I had a project where I had about 60 different components and 400+ pieces and it wasn't worth stripping down a machine setup for production to do this prototype. I went in search of hand/manual assembly solutions, nothing great existed that I could find. One of the biggest issues were the "feeders" or lack thereof. I then fired up Fusion and designed a couple different types.The smaller type is good for passives on 8mm tape. The larger was designed specifically for can caps on 16mm tape, but will work with smaller tape/components easily.I thought about selling them on Amazon, but I'm not sure if there would be much demand. Opinions?

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2021, 04:40:46 pm
content: The other version, can't figure out how to put multiple pics in one post

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2021, 05:00:40 pm
content: I find it useful for small labs as it would allow to have common components ordered

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2021, 09:49:32 pm
content: Click the "(more attachments)" link when adding more photos.Your idea is good, these exist for small components:https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3952021

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 07:18:17 am
content: I think lots of people would find them useful, as others point out there are multiple models of tape holder, dispenser and feeder out there on thingyverse orin Hackaday articles but there is probably always room for a physical pre/well printed product, plus a commercial one can take on user feedback and improve while thingyverse models get endlessly copied and tweaked into a linux like baffling array of undocumented variations.

author: Styno
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 08:03:00 am
content: Maybe it depends a bit on the price level?Another option could be to source some older mechanical feeders types, like the ones on our Dima Optimat. They are cheap (~ $20 for 8mm/4) and are often available on Ebay or from used equipment sellers.Part numbers:SMPM-6082 8mm/2SMPM-6080 8mm/4SMPM-6120 12mmSMPM-6160 16mmSMPM-6240 24mmSMPM-6320 32mmSMPM-6440 44mmSMPM-5051 300 mm reel holder (used with magazine)SMPM-5000 magazine (7x8mm)

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 03:24:49 pm
content: Retail price wouldn't be much.They are designed to need extremely little human labor to make/assemble, and I would likely sell them "assembly required" and let the customer put the couple screws in themselves.For the basic small versions, I figured around $8 each. For the larger versions, about $10-12 and then the peeler assembly a separate item, they can supply their own 8mm rod at the length they need.

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2021, 05:30:35 pm
content: I was able to optimize the geometry and slicer settings on the larger version to eliminate the need for any support material, so they print easily and come off the printer ready to go. This will reduce cost as labor is massively reduced.The hardest part is the thumb gear. Either I print them on my resin printer, which is the usual resin printing mess, or they will have a bunch of support material if printed on the FDM printer, and I'm not sure if the super small gear teeth will even come out on an FDM printer. Those gear teeth are SMALL.All in all, these could be produced with very little human labor, so retail price can be very reasonable.

author: jduncan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2021, 09:22:54 pm
content: Seems like a solution looking for problem to me. Never had an issue dumping my parts from tape into a tray.There's a ton of 3d-printed low end feeds on hackaday/thingiverse already.

author: Mangozac
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2021, 11:50:36 pm
content: Quote from: jduncan on October 15, 2021, 09:22:54 pmI'm inclined to agree. Larger parts can just be dumped into a tray. This seems like a great solution for 8mm tapes:https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3952021

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 07:51:55 pm
content: Maybe its my OCD, but dumping parts in a try drives me nuts! And then I have to run each part at at time. My current work flow for manual placement is to paste the board, I have a simple elevated hand platform 3D printed out, then start at the top and work my way down.

author: alexaraujo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 10:44:41 pm
content: Quote from: Mangozac on October 17, 2021, 11:50:36 pmI have 15 piece, it's good and practical.