Come and see our Conformal Coating Automated Optical Inspection (CCAOI) systems demonstrated at Electronica in Bangalore and make your conformal coating inspection process reliable
Conformal Coating Automated Inspection System
SCH Technologies are working as a partner with German company, Modus, to provide a range of Automated Conformal Coating Inspection Systems (CCAOI).
These modular systems provide optimised UV inspection of conformal coatings and defect detection on a printed circuit board production line.
The success of the design lies in integrating Modus’s state of the art software and lighting system with SCH’s equipment designs.
This partnership provides modular inline and batch solutions which are elegant, flexible, cost-effective and efficient Conformal Coating Inspection Systems.
Why use automated inspection in Conformal Coating?
Conformal Coating defects like bubbles can be detected using UV Automated Inspection Systems
Conformal Coating Inspection is a critical and often neglected stage of the conformal coating process.
The standards such as IPC A 610 are explicit in their requirements for conformal coating inspection yet few companies actually inspect to that level.
The reality is most operators cannot meet these stringent requirements on a repeated basis and therefore automating the process is the logical next stage.
Do you want to improve your conformal coating inspection process and get a viable return on your investment?
If the answer is yes then come and talk to us at our STAND 3125 at Electronica Bangalore and see how you can save money and improve your process.
Or contact us
UK:
Tel: +44 1226 249019
Email: sales@schservices.com
India:
Technical Manager: Madhusudan Marepalli
Email: madhusudan.m@schservices.com
What is the maximum height of components on the PCBs for a standard Conformal Coating AOI system?
This can be critical so important to know due to the length of the machine required and the imaging technology used in the conformal coating AOI.
 Camera slightly to the side. Hidden areas behind the components are now shown clearly. The first question to ask is are the PCBs 3D in nature or are very flat? This helps determine whether we use camera or parallax free scanning technology? Parallax is defined as a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight, and is measured by the angle or semi-angle of inclination between those two lines. How this relates to conformal coating AOI is that with a fixed camera or a standard scanner the camera is at a fixed point and the circuit board with its 3D components may have “shadows” where the camera cannot see down the side of the components. This can be seen in the two photos below. Take a look at our Conformal coating AOI Parallax link here to understand the issues more. Click For further information on Conformal Coating AOI Systems from SCH Technologies. Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
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Why do I need a Conformal Coating AOI system? My robot application process is fully automated
Anyone who uses a selective robot system for applying conformal coating knows that the system can go wrong. The robot dispenses a liquid. This automatically introduces variables that can go wrong in a variety of ways including
- The coating drying out in the valve leading to a blockage or misdirected coating onto the board
- The material running out and not enough deposited
- The PCB put in the wrong way or the wrong PCB for the program put in the machine
- A component out of alignment leading to a collision of the valve with the board
- The wrong viscosity put in the machine or the viscosity changing with temperature
- The material curing in the machine causing a blockage
It is possible to engineer many of these problems out with options purchased at the time for the selective robot. But, ultimately, no manufacturer of material or equipment will guarantee no problems with their process. So, a conformal coating inspector is needed to check the quality of the process.
Yet, why is this the last part of the coating line that is generally not automated. The rest of the line is and the majority of an assembly line is. But, in conformal coating the general industry still relies on an operator visually inspecting a circuit board by eye under UV light. However, it is well known that operator fatigue leads to errors in inspection. Therefore, PCBs that are coated incorrectly will get past the inspectors.
Hence, an Automated Conformal Coating Inspection System can be used to remove the operator error in the line and improve the process.
What is a Conformal Coating Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) System?
An AOI system for inspecting conformal coated circuit board is there to replace a manual operator who physically has to sit and inspect every single board at the end of a line.
Conformal Coating Inspection is a critical and often neglected stage of the conformal coating process. It is the last area of the assembly line that is 95% manually operated around the world yet it is one of the most critical factors.
There have been several challenges to be met in AOI for inspecting conformal coating. The fact that the coating is transparent so everything under the coating can be seen , the coating fluoresces under UV light and the PCBs are 3 dimensional means that the process offers a lot of challenges.
Click Conformal Coating Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) System to find out more.
What information do I need to supply to help specify the right Conformal Coating Automated Inspection System (AOI) for my project?
For conformal coating AOI there are several key areas of information required that will make the process quicker and more accurate for Modus and SCH to identify the right system. These key information areas are Process, Product, System and Installation.
Process
- Abstract of the testing task required. What does the system need to do?
- What is the coating material to be used?
- What is the Cycle time?
- Number of PCB variations?
- Quantities (per shift/per year)?
- Inline / Offline?
Product
- Picture, drawing and / or CAD data of sample PCB available?
- Samples available (5xGood/5xBad examples)?
- Dimensions and weight of sample PCB?
- Is the system to be palletised?
- Size of test area (width and length of pallet on conveyor for example)?
- Double sided testing required?
System
- Number and position of cameras?
- Transfer direction inline?
- Bar code recognition required, type and position?
Installation
- Dimensions of the installation space (any limitations)?
- Where it is to be installed?
- Training needs?
- Test plan creation required?
Answering most of these questions will help build a strong knowledge of what is required for us to specify the right Conformal Coating Automated Inspection System (AOI) for your project.
If you would like to know more about Conformal Coating Automated Inspection Systems (AOI) or other products and services offered and supported by SCH Technologies, please do not hesitate to contact us on +44 1226 249019, email us at sales@schservices.com, click Conformal Coating Automated Inspection System (AOI) or click Contact Us to send us your requests.
Just how do you Inspect your Conformal Coated Printed Circuit Boards?
Conformal coating inspection is the final and one of the most important stages of the conformal coating application process. But it is still to this day a process that 99% of companies complete manually.
So, why is this the case? In general automated conformal coating inspection is a difficult process. Inspecting a UV fluorescent, transparent coating on top of a complex 3D PCB is not the simplest process for an Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) system.
Until now. Modus now offer automated conformal coating inspection systems which work and operate to the IPC criteria in an effective manner. It is has took a lot of development for them working in conjunction with coating companies but the result is a range of systems which successfully inspect PCBs, is practical to use and is realistic in pricing. Now, SCH is working in conjunction with Modus to offer these systems globally.
So, if you want to remove the final manual process from the conformal coating line you should contact us directly click Modus Automated Conformal Coating Inspection to read further information on these systems.
Inspecting Conformal Coating on PCBs – Using the IB100 Conformal Coating Inspection Booth
The IB100 conformal coating inspection booth is an ideal work station for operators to inspect & finish circuit boards which have been conformal coated.
Fitted with dual UVA lamps behind a safety screen to allow solvents to be used safely in the booth, the IB100 offers 36W of ultraviolet light for maximum visual inspection & finishing performance without compromise to operator safety in operation.
Inspection of Conformal Coating made Easy- Conformal Coating Inspection Booths
SCH have the IB100 range of conformal coating inspection booths available for inspecting conformal coatings on printed circuit boards.
An important point in conformal coating inspection & finishing is to creat the optimum environment where an opertor can easily inspect coated circuit boards without fatigue to body or eyes, provide the highest quality results for the conformal coating process and keep the operator safe from the harmful effects of solvents.
SCH Technologies design and manufacture a range of purpose-built, compact and coordinated UV inspection & finishing booths for conformal coating inspection.
These conformal coating inspectio systems are used in SCH’s coating service and have been optimised to offer the best inspection & finishing performance without compromise to health & safety, coupled with ergonomic design to minimise operator fatigue.
Conformal Coating Training – For all types of conformal coating processing
Whether you plan to install a conformal coating process or currently use conformal coatings such as Humiseal we can help to develop or optimise your conformal coating process, to ensure you achieve the best performance. SCH can offer expert training in all areas of conformal coating including conformal coating application techniques, conformal coating material selection, optimisation, conformal coating health & safety and trouble shooting conformal coating problems.
SCH offer quality conformal coating training both on and off site.
Dedicated Training Room
SCH have a dedicated training room for conformal coating courses and demonstrations of conformal coating equipment.
Using this facility candidates get complete hands-on experience with the conformal coating systems and processes without disturbance to production with a full range of systems available to ensure the best learning environment.
Conformal coating systems in the training facility include UV conformal coating curing, conformal coating dip, conformal coating spraying, manual conformal coating inspection and the new ACCIS Automated Conformal Coating Inspection System. Further, processes such as viscosity measurement, masking, de-masking, coating thickness measurement and solvent exposure monitoring can all be undertaken to give the maximum experience to the candidate.
Click for SCH conformal coating training.
Conformal Coating 