Hi Jon, I use a manual stencil printer now and it does work pretty well. The issue is banging out a stencil for all of the proto boards I make. There are about 30 proto designs created per year and since the boards change a bit before they become final, so does the stencil. I don't see the Mydata printer being used for high volume in large production houses as much as high flexibility (in setup) in a lower to medium sized assy house.
The vision is to spend 1-2 hours programming a printer then let it loose on the boards. A typical board run for me is 200 pcs. I agree with printer maintenance. Mark recommended a peristaltic pump. I do like those. A short piece of small high quality tubing is easily disposed of. Mark also provided this link as an alternative method to the jet head: http://www.nordson.com/en-us/divisions/asymtek/Documents/Articles/2008_07_SMT_advanced_solder%20paste_NordsonASYMTEK.pdf I also have a 2000# automatic stencil printer that will accept up to 27" x 27" framed stencils. It was part of a package deal and I did not say no. The smallest framed stencil it will handle is maybe 20" x 20". The boards/panels can be smaller of course. My P&P conveyor is only 12" wide. Dennis > -------Original Message------- > From: Jon Elson <el...@pico-systems.com> > To: ceen...@in-front.com, Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) > <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> > Subject: solder paste > Sent: Aug 06 '12 11:32 > > ceen...@in-front.com wrote: > > Mydata has a MY500 solder paste printer but it about $200k USD more than I > want to spend in the next year or so on a printer. It looks to be a nice > machine. I may see if I can get a replacement head for a MY500 if I can. > > > Printing solder paste with a stencil is amazingly low-tech. The only > thing hard to make is the stencil. > You can buy these, but for many short-run projects the cost would add > up. I have a way to make > stencils myself from .003" brass shim stock material, it is done just > like making a PC board. > You can probably do this with a laser printer and heat transfer the > toner/resist. > > I think keeping a paste jet printer working would put you in the mad > house. Ink jet > printers generally don't work if left sitting for a few days, I'd expect > it to be > WAY worse with solder paste in there! > > Jon > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Live Security Virtual Conference Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
