Idler and Drive rollers for pick and place machine

[p1drobert]

Hi All,

I'm an electronics engineer running a design firm in Melbourne Australia, and I've started designing a pick and place machine for surface mount assembly of components.
For a start I'm looking for good sources of idler rollers and drive rollers. Can any one suggest a good source of low cost miniature rollers, preferable from an online store.

I thought I'd start with the SMD feed mechanism and move on from there. This is intended for personal use although I'm toying with the idea of making the various sub assemblies and completed machine available through my web site for the general public.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Regards
Robert

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

low cost = ? miniature = ? dia. x length?

Can you be more specific?

Dick Z

[p1drobert]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW low cost = ? miniature = ? dia. x length? Can you be more specific? Dick Z

Dear Richard,

Thanks for the reply. I'm looking for idler and drive rollers of aproximate diameter of 15mm. Width about 15mm. The exact size isn't critical. With intergrated bearings, either sintered bronze/plastic or ball bearing.

In a pick and place machines each component is held in a reel. If there are 20 components to a pcb being assembled then you need 20 reels, and therefore 20 feed mechanisms that peel the tape off the paper substrate and expose the component to be picked. I'm thinking I need 3 rollers per mechanism so I'm anxious to keep the roller costs to a minimum. Anything under $4 per roller
would be good.

Regards
Robert

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Is it possible to shrink fit or glue rollers to a shaft? If so, the rollers could be made from sections of tubing and finish ground to size on the shaft.

Should be inexpensive if this is possible. Just a thought.

Dick Z

[p1drobert]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW Is it possible to shrink fit or glue rollers to a shaft? If so, the rollers could be made from sections of tubing and finish ground to size on the shaft. Should be inexpensive if this is possible. Just a thought. Dick Z

Thanks richard,

But I'd rather buy them. The quality would be better, and the labour cost of machinining your own can significant. Its false ecomomy.

Regards
Robert

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

You might try this for info. www.fnsheppard.com Their catalog may help.

Dick Z

[p1drobert]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW You might try this for info. www.fnsheppard.com Their catalog may help. Dick Z

Thanks Richard,

I downloaded their catalog but it doesn't mention stocked items. I suspect its a custom made to order place as are so many of them.
I don't understand why these places just don't slightly over produce a custom roller and then throw it on the interent for on-line sales.

I've had a surprisingly hard time finding stocked rollers at all, and much less at reasonable prices.
I'll keep looking I guess or figure out a way to produce a Pick and place machine with a minimum of rollers.

Thanks,
Regards
Robert
http://www.priority1design.com.au

[Robski]

Try www.vxb.com

[p1drobert]

Originally Posted by Robski Try www.vxb.com

Thanks Robski,

Yes, great prices on bearings. I'll probably buy some. Although I can't seem to locate any rollers, as in neoprene covered wheels, and the like.

Thanks,
Regards
Robert
http://www.priority1design.com.au

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Robert, Just had a brain fart. Could you use "O" rings stretched over a bearing or shaft? Just another thought.

We used to repair feed rollers for printing presses. We cut sections of semi-soft plastic tubes, heated them in hot water to stretch them over cylinders. After they cooled and shrunk (shrinked?) tightly onto the cylinders, we ground the OD of the the plastic "tires" to size.

Dick Z

[p1drobert]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW Robert, Just had a brain fart. Could you use "O" rings stretched over a bearing or shaft? Just another thought. We used to repair feed rollers for printing presses. We cut sections of semi-soft plastic tubes, heated them in hot water to stretch them over cylinders. After they cooled and shrunk (shrinked?) tightly onto the cylinders, we ground the OD of the the plastic "tires" to size. Dick Z

Thanks Richard.

I don't think that would be ok in this case. The pick and place machines need to feed tape through which can be from 8mm to 18mm wide. The o-rings would be too small a contact point. Besides I'm hoping to avoid that patched up look about the machine. I'm mostly an electronics guy so machining stuff is mostly a pain for me. Although I get by when I'm forced to improvise. See my virtual reality exoskeleton from my gallery page of my web site.
http://www.priority1design.com.au/gallery.html

Now I'm thinking I should just limit the amount of rollers in the design if possible because of their expense. I'm just surprised about how hard it is to locate rollers at all, let alone cheap ones.


Regards
Robert
http://www.priority1design.com.au