For pick and place, I have worked with the Zevatech machines and Philips machines. Both are great machines. The Zevatech will give you greater speed and still offer great accuracy and repeatability. Don't let the belt drive stuff scare you, it stays accurate. The Emerald is a very good machine as well, good speed, great accuracy and repeatability. So, both machines will do the trick, which do you buy. The Zevatech is likely to cost more because they will sell you on the speed. But you need to dig deep into service. When I had my Zevatech at my last company I had a trouble getting support. This was mainly due to Zevatech being in the middle of a boom in business and having limited resources. I went through the same thing with Philips in the early 90's. Zevatech may have improved that by now. I currently have Philips Equipment again at my new company, one thing I can say is the service, support, and spare parts are impecable. You can get someone on the phone day or night! Mydata and Quad, never used the equipment. When I bought the Zevatech machines a few years back I evaluated Philips, Zevatech, Mydata, and Quad. Travelled to each facility and everything. Went with Zevatech and was happy except for the service end of it. Mydata has its place in the market, but I do not care for the machine layout for an in-line setup. Quad is struggling and according to many is dying a slow death. They could be wrong and Quad could bounce back well. The QSX looks like a trick machine, just make sure the service and support are not going to go away (ie: company closes.) Screen printers, have used HTI and DEK. We are extremely happy with the DEK. Ours is a 288, so it is a little higher end then the 260. Service and support are outstanding, training is great, and they are good people. As for MPM, never used them and can't say they are bad, most people I talk to that have MPM are happy with them. Ovens, I have used Electrovert and Seho. I am looking right now at new ovens for our future lines and must say I am impressed with the Heller line. Electrovert is good and has good service, but have heard that has declined with the Speedline system they have in place. Electrovert is american and you can usually get parts quick. Heller is also american and they come in a little cheaper then Electrovert. I am told that Heller service is very good too. Good luck, Brad Kendall Hella Electronics Corp.
| We are investigating equipment for a new SMT line. We are an OEM doing thru hole assembly and now must decide whether to do SM assembly in house or sub-contract out. We are a low volume/high board mix company. | Our boards are mixed tech with SM on both sides, some have BGAs and fine pitch to .016". | The equipment under consideration is: | For Pick&Place: Quad IVcMk2/68 or QSX, Mydata TP9-2U, Zevatech FM760L and Philips Emerald | For printers: MPM Model SPM, DEK Model 260 | For ovens: Conceptronic Concept 60, Quad 942C, Electrovert Omniflo | Anyone with experience/info on any of these an email would be greatly appreciated.
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