Patent ID: 7827909

Claim:
A stencil printer for printing viscous material on a substrate, the stencil printer comprising: a frame; a stencil coupled to the frame; a print head, coupled for the frame, to deposit viscous material over the stencil; a substrate support constructed and arranged to hold the substrate; and a control apparatus for controlling movement of at least one of the stencil, the print head and the substrate support along multiple axes of motion, the control apparatus comprising a distributed control motor amplifier, a first motor constructed and arranged to provide movement along a first axis of motion, a second motor constructed and arranged to provide movement along a second axis of motion, a first relay having a switch coupled to the distributed control motor amplifier, a first contact coupled to the first motor, a second contact coupled to the second motor, and a coil for receiving an actuation signal, and a direct current source that provides a direct current signal; wherein the first relay is configured to be manipulated in response to the actuation signal between a first state in which the switch is electrically connected to the first contact and a second state in which the switch is electrically connected to the second contact; wherein the first and second motors are coupled to the substrate support to provide movement of the substrate support; wherein the first relay comprises an additional contact coupled to the direct current source; and wherein the first relay is constructed and arranged such that when the relay is in the first state, the direct current signal is applied to the second motor.