Solder paste printer extends to larger boards
Offering more flexibility in the processing of circuit boards, ASMPT has added the DEK TQ L to its DEK TQ printer series.
The DEK TQ L is for boards measuring up to 600 x 510mm. It has an alignment accuracy of ±12.5 microns at 2Cmk and wet printing accuracy of ±17.0 microns at 2Cpk. The printer is also designed to allow users to place two machines back-to-back to double a line’s productivity without increasing its length.
The DEK TQ L offers electronics manufacturers 90 per cent more printing area than the DEK TQ. The printable area, which measures 560 x 510mm, is 78 per cent larger. With a three-stage conveyor, the DEK TQ L can process boards that are up to 345mm long, increasing the board length possible in the DEK TQ which is 250mm.
Despite the increase in board size, the core cycle time maximum at 6.5 seconds in three-stage operation is only 1.5 seconds more than with the DEK TQ. To achieves these parameters, the DEK TQ L has high precision linear drives, a new off-belt printing process, and the ASMPT NuMotion controller with fibrevoptic cabling. In addition, the efficient high speed under stencil cleaning system (USC) with its own linear drives is claimed to clean up to 50 per cent faster than traditional systems. Due to the larger PCB surfaces, the USC can be equipped with three different, easily exchangeable fabric roll sizes.
The DEK TQ L printer, with a length of 1.3m and a width of 1.5m for a footprint of 1.95 sq meters, is only slightly larger than the DEK TQ.
Printers in the DEK TQ range are designed to run for more than eight hours without a user assist, depending on the cleaning requirements, using the under stencil cleaning system with its 22m fabric roll and seven litre cleaning fluid tank. The machines also accommodate 11m fabric rolls as well as easily interchangeable vacuum inserts of different widths. To minimise manual assists during the printing process, the DEK TQ printers optionally feature an efficient paste management system with an automatic paste dispenser and integrated paste height control with individually configurable warning and stop thresholds. The optional dual access cover allows users to replace paste cartridges without having to stop the printer.
The DEK TQ L magazine for the optional smart pin placement holds up to 60 pins due to the large board sizes, which is twice as many as on the DEK TQ. DEK’s all purpose clamping uses software-driven linear drives to automatically adapt to the thickness and shape of each board. As a result, DEK TQ machine can even print in areas very close to the edge.
For integration into the user’s line, material or production management system, various open and flexible interfaces and protocols are available, including IPC-HERMES-9852 for board-related communication within the line as well as IPC-CFX for the transfer of process data. ASMPT also offers offline programming with Works Printer Programming as part of the shop floor management suite, which also offers factory-wide asset and maintenance management and M2H communication. The printers also support communication with third-party systems and IT systems such as MES or WMS solutions.
