How SCARA, six-axis, and cartesian pick-and-place robotics optimize and streamline electronics manufacturing processes
Specific cartesian robotics application example Consider cartesian robotics in maximally automated printed circuit board (PCB) manufacture and assembly. Cartesian robotics either maneuver end effectors over the boards or take the form of cartesian tables that move PCBs through the reach of fixed processing equipment. For example, such tables might move boards through lithography equipment to print copper circuits onto a nonconductive silicon substrate. Then after the initial PCB print process, copper not part of the design circuitry is chemically etched off. Nonconductive solder masks isolate adjacent traces and components.
Figure 10: Cartesian robotics can be fitted with imaging equipment (such as this thermal-imaging camera) for thermography of PCBs produced with laser-assisted bonding techniques. (Image source: Teledyne FLIR)
In many PCB assembly operations, cartesian robotics accept electronic
subcomponents on reel tapes or box tapes fed into the workcell. (The robotics’ pick-and-place head is designed to grasp and place a variety of these subcomponents.) The robotics verify each subcomponent value and polarity and then set and solder the subcomponents via through-hole or surface-mount technology (SMT) attachments.
Figures 11a and 11b: Shown here are tool heads for affixing surface-mount technology (SMT) subcomponents to a board. (Image source: Dreamstime)
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