Product category:
Electronics manufacturing: equipment, automation, software
News Release from: DMI International | Subject: PCB assembly tools
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 December 2003
Tools ease difficulties in PCB assembly
Three new tools have been specifically designed and developed to ease an area of difficulty in Printed Circuit Board assembly.
Once again, DMI International's recognition of customer's needs has led to new innovations and product development At this time, DMI International (North Plains, Oregon USA) is pleased to announce the addition of three new tools, each specifically designed and developed to ease an area of difficulty in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly: A Fully Adjustable Push Station (designed keeping ergonomics in perspective), a Transistor Lead Crimping Tool, and a Lead Bending Alignment Tool for small components
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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As with each item in DMI International's product line, the commonality of solving a specific customer identified problem evolves into a practical, cost-effective solution in the areas of form, fit and function.
Fully adjustable push station - from hand loading to hand soldering to test and repair, this tabletop workstation will save you frustration, time, effort, and money.
DMI International's Adjustable Push Station allows the operator tremendous versatility in positioning whatever assembly job they are doing to their best advantage.
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The Adjustable Push Station adapts quickly and easily to project piece size simply by loosening 4 wing bolts, moving the holding tray, and then re-tightening the wing bolts.
DMI International's innovative push station will also support your project at any angle up to 45 degrees as well as accept PCBs or fixtures/pallets up to 17.25" x 20.5".
Also, the adjustable slide bar in the holding tray will close down to hold project pieces as narrow as 1.00 inches.
Made almost entirely of aluminum, the DMI International Adjustable Push Station is exceptionally strong, durable and lightweight.
Built in mounting holes on the base not only secures the push station to the workbench top, but also ensures ease of mobility from one work area to another.
Another advantage to using DMI International's Adjustable Push Station is the virtual elimination of the handling of your delicate projects.
By using either an adjustable or a dedicated wave solder pallet in conjunction with the push station, your project can go directly from the loading process to the soldering process.
This also holds true for Reflow or Pic-N-Place.
When fully utilized, DMI International's push station can: 1) Reduce labor costs by making your assembly process more efficient.
2) Reduce damage caused by unnecessary handling.
3) Increase through-put by multi-tasking your Dedicated Wave Solder, Reflow or Pic-N-Place Pallet as an assembly fixture.
4) Provide significant savings in 'job cost' that can be passed on to the customer or used as pure, bottom-line profit.
In addition to the Fully Adjustable Push Station, DMI International also offers a Fixed Angle version.
With the exception of the fixed angle (as per customer specification) of the holding tray, the Fixed Angle Push Station offers all of the same advantages as the fully adjustable version.
Regardless of whether you choose the Adjustable or the Fixed Angle Push Station, DMI International asks that you remember that either 'standard version' can be modified in any form or fashion to fit your particular needs.
Just give us a call and allow us the opportunity to help you solve your particular assembly problems.
Transistor lead crimping tool - the development of DMI International's Transistor Lead Crimping Tool was driven entirely by a customer in a small to medium 'build' facility who received a stack of PCB's, thousands of transistors, one pair of pliers, and a drawing that required the transistor leads to be bent at 2 specific angles prior to insertion into the PCBs.
Clearly, if done individually, this task would be overwhelming, not to mention tedious.
At DMI International, we perceived that this problem might be an all too common occurrence in today's PCB assembly and manufacturing industry.
DMI's solution for this particular problem comes in the form of a tool that allows the user to bend multiple transistor leads accurately and consistently, with ease and speed.
To load the tool, simply drop the transistor onto the alignment pin.
The transistor will be held in place by walls that locate the transistor at 90 degrees to the crimping blocks (top and bottom block).
The crimping blocks are cut at the angles specified (by the customer) for lead crimp, while allowing just enough clearance for the thickness of the leads.
Simply press down on the handle and your transistors are ready for instant installation.
It really is just that simple.
This tool works with efficiency and speed, the cost being absorbed many times over in just the manual labor hours' savings alone.
DMI International's Transistor Lead Crimping Tool can be produced as a single, solid unit, or, as a set with individual crimping blocks designed to meet the needs of multiple project specifications.
We highly recommend the DMI International Lead Crimping Tool as a must for all assembly operations working with small (and large scale) kits in which the supplied parts have unbent leads.
Lead bending alignment tool - do your assembly specialists find it frustrating to bend the leads of thousands of capacitors, resistors and other components at a 90-degree angle while trying to keep the component centered? At best, it is a difficult task made all the more difficult due to programmed time lines for the lead bending phase of the assembly process.
Meeting this problem head on with a simple solution, DMI International's newest innovation is another 'must' for the assembly process line.
The Lead Bending Alignment Tool (for small components) is a highly practical solution, addressing the time constraint issue while ensuring length-to-angle accuracy.
This unique implement will make a difficult and tedious job easier with consistent, quality results achieved by all who use the tool.
DMI International's Lead Bending Alignment Tool centers the component, allowing the 90-degree bend to be placed between 0.250 inches and 0.750 inches in increments of 0.050 inches.
Simply place the component into the relief area for the desired/specified space increment between the leads, and simultaneously bend the leads downward.
The component will be centered and the leads will be bent at right angles, conforming to the project specifications.
This innovative assembly manufacturing tool will not only skim manual labor hours off of production timelines, it will also aid in the elimination of re-work and defects for each assembly job it is used in conjunction with - a true cost-savings and efficient value for each workstation.
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