TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS
FOR THE WHOLE BONDING PROCESS
Maximum flexibility high-mix/low-volume production at manageable investment levels
The customer: a well-known international manufacturer of high-frequency reception modules for cable TV.
The task:
- In the customer's production frequently changing component types have to be produced in medium batch sizes of below 1,000 pieces.
- Because of their non-standard shape – about the size of chocolates, in other words very thick – it is deifficult to process the components with the usual handling systems.
- In particular the thickness of the components makes heating especially complex and slow.
- To avoid excessive manual handling a number of components have to be produced simultaneously; the processing time per individual component is short.
- One clamping device for a number of components is difficult, because component thickness varies greatly.
Special challenges:
- Only a limited investment budget was available for the implementation of the project.
- The specification that the components have to be heated was of special importance.
Highlights of the F & K Delvotec solution:
The F & K Delvotec solution provides a modified standard take-up fixture for manual handling, into which an easily exchangeable pallet with a heat-resistant handle ('frying pan') was integrated. On this pallet the components can be attached on a retaining pin. For positioning purposes rails are fastened to the right and left on the component fixing equipment with rear retaining catches so that the pallet can always be inserted correctly. For optimum clamping from above a clamping frame with (exchangeable) spring combs of adjustable hardness and the correspondingly adjustable contact pressure.
This too can can be exchanged without difficulty. When the components to be produced are changed it is not necessary to modify the whole clamping frame. It is enough to change the spring steel combs.
Customer benefits:
At low investment a solution was implemented which makes it possible to exchange components quickly; in general it is sufficient to change the bond programme – even in the extreme case only the holding-down device needs to be changed. The pallet change does not require retooling because the pallet does not remain on the machine anyway. The components remain on the pallet for a number of processing stages, which means that damage or incorrect replacement are excluded. All components are at the same level and can therefore always be seen at the same time, which simplifies visual inspection and electrical testing. The minimal handling of the individual components is extremely efficient.
Integrated F & K Delvotec products:
"The high-performance solution by F & K Delvotec has made our production significantly more flexible. We are now in a position to deal with production jobs which involve relatively small batch sizes in a convenient, efficient and cost-optimised way."
A leading manufacturer of high-frequency reception modules