TEST + QUALITY ASSURANCE Reacting to an increase in manufacturing demands Benchtop AOI removes production bottleneck With consistent expansion since its formation in 1984, Bela Electronic Designs has achieved strong recognition as an EMS supplier to the design and manufacturing sectors. Following a 50 % growth in business over the last three years, the company is now a £ 4 million concern with 29 employees, specializing in aerospace, scientific, commercial, covert, and security applications. Operating from their purpose – built facility outside Bedford, the company offers a wide range of processes, with flexible manufacturing capacity backed by technical expertise. With an increase in manufacturing demands, Cupio supplied a Nordson Yestech AOI to Bela Electronics Designs. As demand for manufacturing capacity grew, the existing assembled PCB inspection stage started to fall behind the technology levels of the production throughput. Accordingly, in 2010 the company updated their automated inspection process by purchasing a Nordson Yestech BX 12 automated optical inspection (AOI) machine, supplied and supported by Cupio. The BX 12 off-line benchtop system allows for PCB inspection with exceptional defect coverage. The operators can inspect solder joints and verify correct part assembly to improve quality and increase throughput. This new automated approach successfully resolved the company’s capacity issues; timely training and support from the supplier enabled them to fully utilize the AOI’s capabilities and eliminate the inspection bottleneck. Yet, as the business continued to expand, pressure once again started mounting on the inspection level. As previously, the AOI machine provided the solution; in May of this year delivery of a second BX 12 AOI machine occurred. The supplier found the benchtop AOI systems to be a good fit for the company‘s production profile, and easy to integrate into their manufacturing process. With connections into the factory network, both machines can access Gerber files from the network servers and run at the same time. Bela‘s operators could program the AOI systems fast and intuitively, typically taking less than 30 minutes to create a complete inspec- Source: Cupio The BX 12 AOI machine successfully resolved the company’s capacity issues and eliminated the inspection bottleneck. Source: Cupio 72 EPP EUROPE November 2017
PRODUCT UPDATES TEST + QUALITY ASSURANCE Zusammenfassung Seit seiner Gründung hat Bela Electronic Designs ständig expandiert und eine hohe Anerkennung als EMS-Anbieter für die Designund Fertigungsbranche erreicht. Nach einem Umsatzwachstum von 50 % in den letzten drei Jahren konnte das existierende Inspektionssystem den Anforderungen der steigenden Fertigungskapazitäten nicht mehr gerecht werden. Die Investition in ein AOI Tischgerät eliminierte den Produktionsengpass. Résumé Depuis le début, Bela Electronic Designs s‘est continuellement développée et a obtenu une grande reconnaissance en tant que fournisseur EMS pour l‘industrie de la fabrication et design. Après une augmentation de 50 % des ventes au cours des trois dernières années, le système d‘inspection actuel ne pouvait plus répondre aux augmentations des demandes de production. L’investissement dans une unité d’AOI a éliminé le goulot d’étranglement de la production. Резюме С момента своего основания компания Bela Electronic Designs постоянно расширялась и получила широкое признание как разработчик микроэлектронных схем для сферы проектирования и производства. За последние три года оборот компании вырос на 50 %, поэтому существующая система контроля качества продукции уже не могла отвечать требованиям постоянно возрастающих объемов производства. Инвестиция в настольную систему оптического контроля качества печатных плат (AOI) позволила устранить «узкое место» в производственной цепочке. tion program including solder inspection. Once generated, these programs can be used on either machine. The machines’ complete inspection coverage and extremely low false failure rate is enabled by advanced Fusion Lighting and 5-megapixel image processing technology. This integrates several techniques, including color inspection, normalized correlation, and rule-based algorithms. “Bela continuously invests in new, high-technology plant and equipment to maintain a competitive advantage and ensure the highest of quality for our customers,” commented Mike Lafratta, Managing Director, “and, as part of that strategy, Cupio’s Yestech AOI machines have been providing a good solution. They enable the throughput we need, with some leeway, together with sufficient flexibility to check a wider range of products. Buying the second machine was a particularly easy decision, as we could capitalize on our operators’ existing software experience and training. “We would attribute our AOI success to three core elements; the features of the machines themselves, our operators’ ease in programing them for new products, and the excellent response, service and communications we have enjoyed from Cupio.” www.cupio.co.uk Full metrological 3D AOI with 25 mega pixel sensor Mek (Marantz Electronics), will showcase and demonstrate a comprehensive range of AOI systems at this year’s productronica, featuring the latest in 3D inspection technology. This will include a unique AOI capability across a very wide range of applications and budgets. The ISO-Spector M1, a metrological AOI system of true measurement, delivers full, across-the-board height profile measurement and inspection. With a large, 25 mega pixel sensor and 69 x 69 mm FoV, it delivers ultra-high speed inspection of even 008004 components, leads, and solder joints. Multiple Moiré fringe projections enable high precision, shadow free measurement of heights up to 30 mm, as well as, 4 fully programmable side view high-res cameras able to actively inspect J- leads and other devices invisible to top side imagers. Other product highlights at the show include the SpectorBOX GTAz 550. This “Bottom Up/Top Down” system is uniquely engineered to accommodate solder frames on return and/or feed conveyors. It offers bottom side, top side, or simultaneous dual side inspection, deploying up to 18 cameras, Z axis positioning, and auto-focus. The design is optimized for the inspection of THT components to identify defects, such as presence/absence, wrong polarity, colour, type, and bent pins. Various integration alternatives are greatly enhanced by its slim, compact, mechanical design. The entry level iSpector JDz 520 boasts high specifications, including a 5 mega pixel camera, 15 micron telecentric lens, coaxial light, and 520 x 460 mm maximum PCB size. This bench Source: Marantz Electronics top powerhouse uses same high speed programming software as the PowerSpector series of machines. Simultaneous 3D and 2D (5D) Solder Paste Inspection on the ISO-Spector S2 is made possible with patented, third generation sensor technology. Shadow free violet/blue dual lasers ensure accurate and repeatable 3D measurements while episcopic and low angle diffuse RGB lighting creates the highest quality of 2D colour imaging. The SpiderEye Machine Vision systems are static AOI machines for the inspection of moving objects. Inspection and quality control tasks traditionally performed by humans or inflexible mechanical procedures can be fully automated for increased throughput, lower defect counts, and to generally boost productivity and profitability. This is another machine vision solution, including powerful algorithms for THT solder joint inspection with meniscus profiling, and myriad integration alternatives. productronica, Booth A2.402 www.marantz-electronics.com The AOI system delivers ultra-high speed inspection of even 008004 components, leads, and solder joints. EPP EUROPE November 2017 73
