Hello,
Could someone please list to me the issues that are unique to used equipment? For example, what risks run when buying such machines? What things should be considered when buying used ones?
Perhaps I'm considering buying used printer and reflow oven as I have this intuitive thought that such equipment last longer and are much less technologically dependent... except when it comes to the newly arrived LeadFree issues....
For the pick and place I really think I should stick with a new one. Don't you guys think so too? These machines have many precise mechanical parts that with long intervals of usage would degrade their precision and benefits while increasing perhaps defects? Again, this is another intuitive thought.
Since our intended starting volume is low and since our main key for success would be turnaround time for the local market, I'm thinking of the following and I wish to hear your opinion about it: -> Acquire a fast dispensing machine that can deposit solder paste to keep a low volume pick and place machine working. This would save us two things: 1) Stencil delivery waiting period for customers who bring with them their PCBs fabricated in the local market. 2) The stencil cost for low volume products. This makes the cost of assembly more attractive to the locals.
There are people here that assemble SMD by hand for low volumes.. however, the quality is bad and that is why I'm thinking of this whole thing...
Can someone direct me to a good dispensing machine that 1) Can dispense solder for 0.5mm lead pitch ICs and 2)Comes with a software that can extract the solder paste dispense information from the CAD files?
If someone thinks that my thoughts are not practical or have some fundamental problems, then please let me know. For higher volumes we are planning on stencil printing.
Thanks,
Basem PS: Sorry for my earlier posts that started some unintended discussions, had no intentions to start anything unrelated, but perhaps there was some benefit shedding some light on real-life issues that are not usually projected in the R&D world of SMT. I think my world is fairly different and I apologize to bother you with it...
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