Assembly articles from February 2001

Assembly archives from February 2001

Assembling the New Economy.
February 1, 2001... When we published the results of ASSEMBLY's fifth annual capital equipment spending survey last December, consumer confidence was at near historical highs and unemployment was at a 30-year low. The gross domestic product was expected to grow...

Materials Handling Equipment Sales to Rise.
February 1, 2001... CLEVELAND--U.S. sales of materials handling equipment is expected to reach nearly $20 billion in 2004. According to a report by The Freedonia Group, sales of conveyors, forklifts, robots, hoists and other materials handling equipment will...

Asymtek Aids in Research on Dispensing Underfills.
February 1, 2001... CARLSBAD, CA--Dispensing equipment manufacturer Asymtek and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT, Rochester, NY) are cooperating on a study of methods for applying no-flow underfill materials. RIT will perform the study using...

AWS Revises Sheet Metal Welding Rules.
February 1, 2001... MIAMI--The American Welding Society (AWS) has revised its standard for welding sheet metal. Approved by the American National Standards Institute, the standard covers the performance, workmanship and inspection requirements for arc and...

Slide Rule Aids Specification of Resistance Welders.
February 1, 2001... MONROVIA, CA--A slide rule from Unitek Equipment provides information necessary to specify resistance welding equipment for small metal parts. The slide rule has tables for choosing materials, designing parts, selecting electrodes and...

Multifactor Productivity Rises Again.
February 1, 2001... WASHINGTON--Multifactor productivity in manufacturing increased for the seventh consecutive year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Multifactor productivity measures the joint influences on economic growth of technological...

Microabrasive Blaster Heads for Mars.
February 1, 2001... BURBANK, CA--The next NASA robot to explore the surface of Mars may be equipped with microabrasive blasting equipment from Comco Inc. In manufacturing, microabrasive blasting is used to precisely clean, cut, deburr or texture various...

Domino Raises Money for UNICEF Through Ebay.
February 1, 2001... CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND--Domino UK Ltd. has raised thousands of pounds for UNICEF through an auction on the Ebay Web site. A manufacturer of ink-jet and laser marking equipment, Domino auctioned off the 10,000th A300 ink-jet printer. The winning...

Deprag Opens New Building.
February 1, 2001... LEWISVILLE, TX--Deprag Inc., a manufacturer of automated fastening equipment, has opened a new 8,000-square-foot office building here. The two-story building includes an equipment demonstration area. The U.S. subsidiary of Deprag-Schulz...

IFI Publishes Heat Treatment Checklist.
February 1, 2001... CLEVELAND--The Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) has published a checklist for manufacturers to use when specifying heat treatment services for fasteners and special headed parts. The checklist covers what to include in the quotation...

Italian Supplier of Indexers Opens U.S. Office.
February 1, 2001... SPARTA, NJ--CDS Corp., an Italian manufacturer of cam-operated motion control components, has opened an office here in partnership with the Italian Technology Association. CDS manufactures more than 60 models of parts handlers,...

Web Sales of Automation Products to Soar.
February 1, 2001... DEDHAM, MA-Web sales of low-end automation products will grow by almost 200 percent during the next 4 years. According to a study by the ARC Advisory Group, online sales of programmable logic controllers, sensors, drives, operator...

RWT Opens New Facility.
February 1, 2001... FORT MYERS, FL-Robotic Workspace Technologies Inc. (RWT) has opened a new facility here. The 13,000-square-foot building houses RWT's corporate offices, technical support personnel, and software and new product development teams. The...

Philips Renames Automation Unit.
February 1, 2001... SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ--Philips Machinefabrieken has changed its name to Philips Enabling Technologies Group. The new name is intended to better reflect the company's profile as a provider of precision manufacturing equipment. A division of...

Rixan to Sell Mitsubishi Robots.
February 1, 2001... DAYTON, OH--Rixan Associates Inc. has signed a 5-year distribution agreement with Mitsubishi Electric Automation (Vernon Hills, IL). Mitsubishi manufactures robots, motion control equipment, programmable logic controllers and...

Engineers Week Targets Girls.
February 1, 2001... ALEXANDRIA, VA--It's every girl's dream: Grow up and become an engineer. Well, not every girl, perhaps. But, if the National Engineers Week Committee's new outreach campaign works, the dream could become commonplace soon. For National...

United States Leads World in Productivity.
February 1, 2001... WASHINGTON--U.S. manufacturers had the highest rate of productivity growth in the world in 1999. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, labor productivity in manufacturing increased by 6,2 percent in the United States in 1999,...

Adept Leases New Facility.
February 1, 2001... SAN JOSE, CA--Adept Technology Inc. has leased a new, larger manufacturing and research facility in Livermore, CA. The new facility will support Adept's growing business in the fiber optic, telecommunications and semiconductor industries....

To Reduce Injuries, Design for Ergonomics.
February 1, 2001... ANN ARBOR, MI--Assemblers can dramatically reduce the risk of operator injury when they consider ergonomics during product design and development. According to a new training program and manual from Humantech Inc., there are several ways...

Loctite Puts News Online for Engineers.
February 1, 2001... ROCKY HILL, CT--Design and manufacturing engineers who specify adhesives for product assembly can electronically access six industrial newsletters from Loctite Corp. The publications are Global Automotive Report; CrossLink, a newsletter...

NCMS to Give CAD a Fourth Dimension.
February 1, 2001... ANN ARBOR, MI--With the use of current CAD software, what customers get is not always what they see. A new project underway at the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) could solve that problem. Most CAD applications create and...

ASSEMBLY Says, 'Thanks!'.
February 1, 2001... About 30,000 ASSEMBLY subscribers who are involved in fastening operations received our Fastener Guidebook as a special supplement to the November 2000 issue of ASSEMBLY. We would like to take this opportunity to thank All Fasteners Inc., a...

Want a Job? Get a Grip!
February 1, 2001... BETHLEHEM, PA--Can having a lousy handshake knock you out of the running for a job? Maybe, according to employers responding to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Employers were given a list of 10...

Simulation Software Helps Plan Winter Games.
February 1, 2001... SALT LAKE CITY--Simulation software company Promodel Corp. (Orem, UT) is providing simulation tools and consulting services to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002. The software tools are allowing...

THREE BOARDS IN A FOUNTAIN...
February 1, 2001... Retrofitting a robot to accommodate a new soldering process helps Rockwell engineers solve an assembly challenge. NEW TECHNOLOGY IS like a coin. Heads--it brings benefits that create a better product. Tails--a unique product configuration...

MIX & MATCH.
February 1, 2001... Metering, mixing and dispensing multicomponent adhesives offers unique challenges and opportunities for assemblers. Various manual and automated methods are available. "THE GOOD THINGS of life are not to be had singly, but come to us with...

THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE.
February 1, 2001... To maintain market leadership, Becton Dickinson had to reconfigure its operations to assemble new, more complicated medical devices--and do it quickly. ON NOV. 6, 2000, PRESIDENT Clinton signed a law requiring health care facilities to use...

USING LOOSE RIVETS.
February 1, 2001... Traditional rivets aren't as common on plant floors as they once were. But, they're still a cost-effective fastening alternative for many assembly applications. IF YOU WERE A MANUFACturing engineer 100 years ago, your dream job would...

MAKING CONTACT.
February 1, 2001... Forming a satisfactory crimp depends on the right combination of wire, terminal and tool. CRIMPING IS A METHOD OF firmly attaching a terminal to a wire by pressure forming. Compared with soldering, crimping is a quick, clean, repeatable...

Film Coating for Components.
February 1, 2001... Film coating 9-20558 cures in seconds and protects underlying circuitry and components from moisture, dust and other contaminants. Controlled placement of the coating optimizes the process and minimizes resin consumption. The coating has...

Ergonomic Workstations.
February 1, 2001... The Quad Post allows custom configurations and easy reconfigurations for assembly and test applications, and production use.

Reflow and Replication Software.
February 1, 2001... The AutoM.O.L.E. Xpert automatic reflow and replication software helps the design engineer define a robust target thermal profile for each specific combination of solder paste and reflow oven. This profile can then be distributed to other...

Silicone Conformal Coatings.
February 1, 2001... Silicone conformal coatings are 100 percent solid and have no solvents or harmful ingredients. Solid coatings provide adhesion, stress relief and protection of fine-pitch leads.

Handheld Dispenser.
February 1, 2001... The EZmix HI dispenser is a lightweight, electric handheld dispenser for materials packaged in 50-milliliter cartridges. It comes in low-voltage plug-in or cordless options. A speed control varies dispense rate, and drooling is virtually...

Label Feeder.
February 1, 2001... The Hover-Davis ProPoint label feeder provides on-demand label printing and presentation to pick-and-place equipment. It operates by printing a label and presenting it for placement via a standard nozzle. The information to be printed is...

Adhesive Curing Device.
February 1, 2001... The Novacure has built-in system intelligence, monitoring, control and reporting features that allow for control and repeatability for each cure.

High-purity Conductive Polymer.
February 1, 2001... Baytron PLS conductive polymer can be used to formulate transparent, electrically conductive antistatic coatings that exceed stringent clean room requirements.

UV Radiometer.
February 1, 2001... The Electro-Lite ELC-300 auto ranging radiometer measures the ultraviolet performance of spot cure and production process systems. It measures irradiance up to 20 watts per square centimeter between 300 and 400 nanometers. The measurements are...

Automatic Stencil Printer.
February 1, 2001... The Gold-Print SPR-45 automatic stencil printer deposits solder paste for medium-volume surface mount assembly. The printer has automatic power frame lift, microprocessor controls, and fine X-Y-Z and theta adjustments for exact stencil-to-board...

Inspection System.
February 1, 2001... The Ersascope Inspection System 3000 is a benchtop, user-friendly tool for quickly inspecting all types of ball grid arrays, micro ball grid arrays and flip-chip components.

Pick-and-Place Unit.
February 1, 2001... VAi 3150 provides ball placement for standard and fine pitch ball grid array and chip-scale package applications. Two placement modules allow two different substrates to be processed simultaneously, maximizing machine utilization, or a single...

Pneumatic Crimper Is Portable.
February 1, 2001... The Model 62 Accu-Crimp, a portable, benchtop pneumatic crimper, crimps loose terminals onto discrete wire, coaxial and flat modular telecommunications cable. Compact unit generates more than 1,200 pounds of crimping force at 80 psi, ensuring a...

Stackable Storage Rack.
February 1, 2001... The Nikko Tak Rack, a lightweight, sturdy rack, is suitable for transportation, storage or workbench applications. It is adjustable and stackable to save space.

Coaxial Cable Stripper.
February 1, 2001... The new CoaxStrip 5400 programmable coaxial cable stripper performs multiple stage strips on many wire and cable types. The maximum cable diameter that can be processed is 11 millimeters O.D., and the overall maximum stripping length is 40...

Stereo-zoom Microscope.
February 1, 2001... The LYNX stereo-zoom microscope produces high-resolution images to 120X on a large viewing area. The modular design features a variety of magnification, illumination, mounting and camera options.

AC Hipot Testers.
February 1, 2001... AC hipot testers are available in 1,067 VAC/10 mA (high-end), 1,000 VAC/10 mA (standard) and 1,000 VAC/2 mA (low-cost) units. Optional DC hipot testing capabilities can be added.

Cushion-grip Tweezers.
February 1, 2001... The SofTweezer line of cushion-grip tweezers is ESD and clean room safe. Eight different styles provide a wide range of grasping, holding and cutting capabilities.

Quality Software.
February 1, 2001... Quality Monitor 2.1. is suitable for plant-floor quality data collection, SPC charting and alarming. It meets plant floor quality requirements of electronics manufacturing and contract assembly, reduces configuration time and cost, and...

Screwdriver Reroutes Static.
February 1, 2001... The AE-5681ESD and AE-4510ESD Electra Low ESD series screwdrivers have carbonized housings that conduct static charge, either present or created at the tool, to ground. They feature long-lasting ESD-resistant handles, external brush replacement...

Benchtop Wave Solder Machine.
February 1, 2001... Benchtop wave solder machines are available with single wave for through-hole or dual wave for surface mount board assembly. They have 8- or 12-inch wave widths, a stainless steel solder pot, slide-out stainless steel foam fluxer and onboard...

Syringe-dispensible Solder Paste.
February 1, 2001... The R276 syringe-dispensable, no-clean solder paste dispenses with a wide range of needle diameters. The flexible reflow profile is suitable for contract manufacturers and electronics assembly companies who operate low-volume and high product...

Electronic Cutters and Pliers.
February 1, 2001... STUSA electronic cutters and pliers feature stainless steel, double action, welded, leaf springs to provide smooth operation and productivity. Cutter edges are hardened by computerized induction heat and tempered for optimal hardness and...

Benchtop Lead Form.
February 1, 2001... Form axial components to almost any configuration with the CF-2000 benchtop lead-forming system. Snap-ins, stand-offs, verticals and 90-degree bends are achieved at speeds up to 20,000 pph. It adjusts to various axial forming applications. Lead...

Conduction and Convection Furnace.
February 1, 2001... The Falcon 1200 is a multipurpose conduction and convection furnace capable of temperatures up to 420 C with an accuracy of [+ or -]2 C, which ensures consistent and repeatable profiles. Its applications include reflow soldering, epoxy curing,...

Bar Code Printer Software.
February 1, 2001... Network and manage bar code printers from anywhere with Zebralink. Stand-alone applications for printers can be created without a PC, and printer status can be monitored from any location. Printer alerts can be received in real-time, and...

Ribbon Bonder.
February 1, 2001... The 8068RB ribbon bonder has 1 inch of bondhead Z stroke and deep access, 90-degree wire feed angle that enables bonding of packages with deep cavities and large downsets. In addition, the combination of wedge bonding, looping control and...

Metal and Plastic Marker.
February 1, 2001... This marking tool indents up to five characters per second, including product identification, shift codes, automatic serial numbers, dates and customized logos. It includes a built-in computer and is suitable for trace-ability and part...

High-volume Solder Paste.
February 1, 2001... F817 no-clean solder paste is suited for high-volume applications. A dual activation package supports synergistic wetting on numerous surface finishes. A four-stage solvent system prints at speeds faster than 6 inches per second.

Soldering Robot.
February 1, 2001... The Robosol Pro 401P four-axis desktop selective soldering robot does both linear and point-to-point selective soldering within an 11.8- by 11.8-inch soldering area. Accessory options include fume extraction attachment, nitrogen envelope,...

Closed-loop Welding System.
February 1, 2001... This closed-loop welding system is for applications where closed-loop feedback control and fast response times are required. The UB25 provides control for microminiature resistance welding. For applications requiring more comprehensive control...

Adjustable Workbench.
February 1, 2001... Adjustabench can change heights at the push of a button and can be programmed to remember three specific setting levels for preset positioning. Accessories and options include ESD worktop for total EDS protection.

Unit Monitors Reflow Oven Performance.
February 1, 2001... The Surveyor can monitor reflow oven performance to determine if the process is within specification. An adjustable frame rides on the oven's rail or mesh belt. Fixed sensors closely mimic PCB behavior, and intuitive software provides clear...

Pneumatic Actuator.
February 1, 2001... HandWorker turns hand tools into power tools. It is a pneumatic actuator that operates many styles of hand crimpers, strippers, cutters, riveters and pliers. Unit is operated by a foot control. The user can set the maximum and minimum...

Component Counter.
February 1, 2001... County counters and scales provide fast, accurate counting of all types of components. Microcomputer-based instrument counts taped radial, axial and surface mount components. The County-S counts taped surface mount components. The County-W...

Machine Fixes Deformed Leads.
February 1, 2001... The MLCS-1 is a benchtop, hand-operated machine that fixes deformed leads on fine pitch components that have been rejected by pick-and-place machines. Lead pitch, skew, standoff and coplanarity can be corrected on packages up to 32 by 32...

Electronics Tray Cart.
February 1, 2001... The electronics tray cart system is available in three standard tray cart models: a front-load, 20-tray unit; a taller, front-load, 30-tray unit; and a 20-tray, side-load unit for heavy PCB or subassembly storage and handling applications....

Microwelding Workstation.
February 1, 2001... Model WS4000 is an automatic microwelding workstation. It includes power supply, weld heads, Windows NT-based user-definable operating sequence, pneumatic Z-axis actuators and X-Y axis motion control. Options include on- and off-load...

Tilt-Top Conveyor.
February 1, 2001... Model T tilt-top conveyor, with full-rib, static-dissipative and heat-resistant belting, is a suitable wave solder machine exit conveyor. Up and down adjustment and 45-degree tilt in both directions carries boards to the desired position or...

Illuminated Magnifier.
February 1, 2001... The Mighty Mag illuminated magnifier has a large lens and two 9-watt fluorescent bulbs that can be operated independently, providing shadow-free illumination, and reduced eye strain and fatigue. Adjustable arm has a 35-inch reach. An ESD-safe...

In-line High-speed Vision Inspection System.
February 1, 2001... To check solder joints and verify part installation quickly and accurately, the RTI-7500 uses high-resolution cameras. Color-inspection capabilities are provided by a color, mega-pixel camera that extracts triple the amount of information of a...

Material Pressure Regulator.
February 1, 2001... For adhesive and sealant applications, precisely regulating the material pressure allows control of the material flow rate. The new See-Flo material pressure regulator features stainless steel construction that allows inlet pressures up to...

Dispensing Robot.
February 1, 2001... The I&J2200 benchtop dispensing robot has a 322- by 377-millimeter footprint and weighs 18 kilograms. It comes with ready-to-use dispensing software, teach pendant, RS232C lead and memory card for program storage. Available hardware allows for...

Solder Modules.
February 1, 2001... The Harmony Selective Solder System comprises three modules (flux, preheat and solder) that can be operated together or independently. These modules feature the Maestro Windows NT-based software and will handle PCBs, electronic modules or...

Benchtop for Wire Processing.
February 1, 2001... The Kappa 240 benchtop unit handles big gauge and large diameter wire with ease and operating flexibility. An optional cutting head expands the processing range. Toolless guide tubes, swiveling V-blades and Windows software minimize conversion...

Height-Adjustable Memory Stations.
February 1, 2001... Electric height-adjustable memory stations have a height range of 20 inches. Available in 60- or 72-inch widths, these units are rated to 500 pounds of static load. Operator height settings can be preset for different applications.

Multifunction Magnifier.
February 1, 2001... The multifunction Omnivue magnifier features a pivoting, large, stadium-shaped lens, which provides optimum viewing and positioning. Dual light levels are provided in one light. Choose from two side-by-side, 9-watt, compact fluorescent lamps...

Label Printer.
February 1, 2001... The PT-9200DX label printer can be used in a variety of commercial applications. It produces 360-dpi labels on P-touch adhesive-backed, laminated label stock. Labels resist extreme temperatures, moisture, chemicals, abrasion and fading. Unit...

Rework System Has Split-beam Vision.
February 1, 2001... The ball grid array, chip-scale package and QEP AT707 rework system has split-beam vision. Placement and reflow are colocated, eliminating errors caused by board movement after placement. The operating program clears the component automatically...

Ergonomic Chairs.
February 1, 2001... ESD ergonomic chair models meet California Technical Bulletin 133's flammability standards and static-sensitive environment requirements. The models include a manager's chair and a chair for laboratories, clean rooms and other applications. The...

Lifters for Manufacturing.
February 1, 2001... Lift-O-Flex 1700 and 1900 series lifters have load capacities up to 500 pounds. Their grippers have an adjustable reach for different test stations. The end-effector can be tilted up to 50 degrees for narrow aisles and doorways. Their...

Retrofit Lifting Device.
February 1, 2001... Dyna-Lift's retrofit height-adjustable applications feature cylinder configurations of one to six cylinders with lifting capabilities of 250 to 1,500 pounds. It is suitable for raising and lowering workbenches, office furniture and specialty...

Adhesive Curing Device.
February 1, 2001... The MicroCure 5100 and 2100 curing systems operate with variable frequency microwave energy, which allows fast curing of standard, off-the-shelf, polymeric adhesives, and allows selective focusing of microwave energy on a given material, such...

Harness Assembly and Test System.
February 1, 2001... Easy-Wire allows harness assembly manufacturers to build and test harness assemblies simultaneously. It includes the CR tester, software, Easy-Wire grid tiles and components, such as locking bracket bases and interchangeable adapters. It stores...

Motion Package Cuts Cost, Minimizes Footprint.
February 1, 2001... When Orthodyne Electronics (Irvine, CA), a manufacturer of electronics assembly equipment, adapted its ultrasonic wire bonders to a new market, it installed compact feeders driven by a motion control package from Rexroth Star (Charlotte, NC) on...