Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
chine. This new equipment introduction process has played out consistently at SparkFun
with each new machine that has been added over the years.
Today, the SparkFun semi-automated assembly machinery lineup includes the follow-
ing equipment:
1 LeadSMT LD-P808AL Stencil Printer:
capable of stenciling 1 large PCB pan-
el every 2 minutes
2 Manncorp MC38x Pick-and-Place Machines:
each rated with the capacity to
place up to 4000 CPH
1 MYDATA MY100LXe Pick-and-Place Machine:
rated at a capacity of 16,000
CPH
1 Vitronics Isotherm 500s Reflow Oven:
with an average cycle time of 5 minutes
(the time it takes a single board or panel of PCBs to fully reflow and cool)
1 Manncorp SMT460C Reflow Oven:
the redundant backup oven for SparkFun,
also with an average 5-minute cycle time
1 A.C.E. Technologies KISS-102 Selective Soldering Machine:
a more efficient
method of soldering PTH components than manually hand-soldering each one with
a soldering iron
1 YaLan YLPC-1A Hot Bar Soldering Machine:
a high-quality, repeatable, and
efficient way to solder displays with flexible PCB connectors to a base PCB design
1 Aqueous Technologies Trident CL PCA Batch Washer:
with an average wash
cycle time of 30 minutes per batch of boards being cleaned
1 Nordson Yestech BX-12 Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Machine:
an
efficient method of inspecting preassembled boards for a variety of defects
1 SharpSX Packaging Machine:
capable of packaging up to 35 assembled boards
per minute
As SparkFun's manufacturing demands change, there will continue to be new ma-
chines that are looked at and considered. Moreover, every future machine purchasing de-
cision will be run through a gauntlet of questions and calculations to ensure that the ma-
chine will deliver the expected performance results and provide an adequate return on the
investment.
