Pick and Place Machine software project

[stewi]

Great, with you on board, I feel comfortable this is a go.
I registered wikiplacer.com as our domain, but don't have a host or website yet.

I envision a modular approach, allowing to swap from single nozzle placement heads to multiple nozzle heads, or single gantry to dual gantries.
Starting price for single gantry, single nozzle, mechanical component alignment should be as low as $ 5,000. However, the base machine can be upgraded to dual gantry, PCB conveyor, vision system and multiple nozzle heads in order to match or exceed current market leader machine's performances to a much lower price.

I copy the shared design concept idea from Joe Justice, he shall forgive me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8jdx-lf2Dw]TEDxRainier - Joe Justice - WikiSpeed - YouTube

[scsi]

Stewi - before we go multi-gantry or multi-head, we need to nail down the closed loop positioning. This is something that is totally lacking in sub-$100k machines and can greatly improve reliability and pave the road to higher speeds.

There is one great thing about KFLOP motion controller - it can take up to eight encoders and close the positioning loop properly.

After that I would really like to see linear motors on X and Y axes. They will greatly simplify mechanical design and make machine lighter and more compact and reliable.

-scsi

[stewi]

I'm all for a closed loop system. However, we should make these decisions with all team members involved and will likely come to the same conclusion.
Linear motors are still too expensive, unless we build our own.
We will also likely get the costs down using air bearings rather then linear bearings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gK5yYfaN1Y]SKF Air Bearing Retrofit - YouTube
I have a very positive feeling about this project. At the end, we will have the best product to the lowest possible price.

[stewi]

The idea of individuals contributing to a larger scale design project isn't all that new. GT | Newsroom - Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Receives $1.5 Million to Create Online Collaborative Vehicle Design Capability
If needed, I can contact Jack Zentner to advise on our project.

[circuitry]

Hi Guys,
I've been following this thread for a while, and am extremely encouraged by how far you have got SCSI! It looks really great.

I have a pick and place machine from the 90s which is good, but takes a bit much time setting up for each new board(teach in), so I guess that with your software you just export coordinates from the circuit design software which can then be read by your pick & place software?

At the moment I take it that your software will only work with the Kflop controller?

My machine quotes that it can place up to 4800cph with a single head, but that is of course absolute maximum and it doesn't achieve that in reality, but I would be happy to lose some speed for a more up to date system (i.e. using your software).

Will your software support a conveyor board feed system and a solder dispensing head (both of which I have on my machine)?

Any update on the project would be greatly appreciated.

[guru_florida]

So dont hold back! What machine did you buy?

SCSI,
Looks fantastic. We bought the cheapest pick and place out there years ago, and the software is full of bugs, is not user configurable, limited to 4x control card, looses it's place at random and crashes... We've had to rebuild the machine/feeders several times, and the whole thing has just been a pain. I'm excited to see what happens with your software.

A couple of questions.
1. Will you be able to place QFN IC's?
2. Will the webcams have enough resolution, or would I have to purchase like a microscope or something like that? Have you done testing on these?
3. Why is it limited to 1000 CPH? If you had a faster machine could it place more, or is this about the limit of what a single nozzle can place per hour without flinging parts all over the place?
4. What will you do about software updates?

I love the flexability that you are trying to incorporate.
Press on
Dave

[Colin Barron]

Hi,
Where is the project upto?
Regards
Colin

[guru_florida]

It seems this project is dead, unfortunately.

I have a PnP machine that I bought. I'd kick in all sorts of pictures, explanations, details on how it is made just to see this project work. Some time in the future I'd still like to make my own PnP machine. I'm like Goldmember in Austin Powers --- you got to have LAZZERS!!! No really, you have to have lasers on the pickup head for part alignment, they rock! I don't need the slow-ass camera system. (Good to have, but I haven't needed it yet.)

[krazatchu]

The openPNP google group is going strong, with ongoing software development and real working machines...

[Steven C.]

I wish I knew what the status is..... SCSI seems to have dropped off the face of the earth without explaining to his Beta Testers the convoluted thoughts that must have gone through his head when he came up with the latest calibration and feeders implementation. I don't mind so much the money I spent as a Beta Tester, but I mind a lot that I stopped perusing the direction I was headed to go his direction.

I've been following openPNP, and have been disappointed with their definition of "open". It seems to be the work of one person, and if you make changes/improvements, you need the blessings of the main author to get them incorporated. I'm 99% sure the main author doesn't even have hardware to place 1206 resistors, and has never actually used a commercial machine....