Technosystem, automated PCB assembly machines

Technosystem unveils revolutionary Millennium V4 for PCB traceability

Millennium V4, a robotic system with advanced laser marking and thickness control technology for the traceability of PCB from Benmayor

Technosystem has unveiled its latest technological innovation, the Millennium V4, a cutting-edge robotic system designed to revolutionize printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. Equipped with laser marking systems, thickness control, and copper thickness measurement, this equipment promises to improve precision and efficiency in PCB production significantly.

The objective of the technology developed by Technosystem:

As PCBs are manufactured with increasing layers, the need for intermediate cores in their production grows. Manufacturers in the EU and the USA are diversifying their product mix, producing fewer identical units but a greater variety of different circuits. This complicates the management of internal layers, increasing the risk of errors only detected at the end of the process.

Technosystem identified this issue and developed the Millennium V4, a machine capable of mitigating and identifying errors early in production.

The process begins with the manual selection of thin-layer laminates needed for PCB manufacturing, duly counted by the operator. A plastic separator is inserted between each type of laminate or different jobs, which is later identified by the automated system.

The laminates are placed in an L rack, forming a stack of thin layers of different thicknesses and types. Each time a different laminate is introduced, the operator scans the barcode on the production sheet, which contains the reference for the thin layer, copper thickness on sides A and B, dielectric thickness, material type, maximum and minimum accepted thicknesses for copper and dielectric, and the laminate dimensions in X-Y. All this information is automatically entered into the Millennium V4.

Millennium V4 Operation Process:

1. The robotic arm adjusts to the panel size as indicated in the barcode.

2. Once adjusted, it takes the first laminate and inserts it into the clamp.

3. The clamp closes, securing the edge of the laminate inside the clamp.

4. With the clamp closed, the following is measured:

  • Total thickness of the laminate (from the exterior of the copper on side A to the exterior of the copper on side B).
  • Copper thickness on sides A and B simultaneously.     

The three measurements are sent to the Millennium V4 PC panel, where the following calculations are made:It determines if the copper on side A is within the maximum and minimum tolerance.

  • It determines if the copper on side B is within the maximum and minimum tolerance.
  • If both measurements are within tolerance, the measured thickness of side A and side B copper is subtracted from the total laminate thickness, to determine the dielectric thickness.
  • It analyses whether the dielectric thickness is within the maximum and minimum tolerances indicated by the barcode.
  • If within tolerances, the laser is activated to mark to mark according to the customer's specification, which could be:
    • Legible text describing the laminate: "FR4 35/35 100mic".
    • Barcode.
    • QR code.Legible text + QR code of the job to be printed (this code will be used in subsequent operations such as Direct Imaging).
    • Other prints were requested by the customer.

Process Conclusion:

Once measured and marked, the laminate is deposited in the second station of the Millennium V4. The system also automatically moves the plastic separator inserted between the different laminates from station 1 to station 2, maintaining its position.

The Millennium V4 is equipped with an output conveyor belt that is activated when used as a feeder at the beginning of a production line. In other words, the Millennium V4 can function as a feeder with the added function of thickness control and laser marking, achieving a rate of 3 panels per minute.

If the copper thickness on side A or B, or the dielectric thickness, is not within accepted tolerances, the Millennium V4 will automatically stop, lighting a red indicator, or it will deposit the out-of-tolerance laminate in the buffer station without marking it and continue with the next core to be measured and laser marked.

With this innovative technology, Technosystem positions itself at the forefront of the PCB manufacturing industry, offering solutions that not only improve precision and efficiency but also significantly reduce errors in the production process.

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