Camelot Glue Dispenser Off-line Programming

Does anyone know the best way to program my Camelot glue dispenser off line? I really like the machine, it just takes me too long to program it. We do contract work so I can get gerber data for all (most) of my assemblies. I need to get these programs out faster and I would prefer to use some kind of windows software. Please let me know what options I have.

Thanks, Darren

reply »

| Does anyone know the best way to program my Camelot glue dispenser off line? I really like the machine, it just takes me too long to program it. We do contract work so I can get gerber data for all (most) of my assemblies. I need to get these programs out faster and I would prefer to use some kind of windows software. Please let me know what options I have. | | Thanks, | Darren |

Use the Gerbers to create an epoxy stencil and do away with programming the dispensor. Screen printing the glue is faster and more consistant/accurate.

reply »

| | Does anyone know the best way to program my Camelot glue dispenser off line? I really like the machine, it just takes me too long to program it. We do contract work so I can get gerber data for all (most) of my assemblies. I need to get these programs out faster and I would prefer to use some kind of windows software. Please let me know what options I have. | | | | Thanks, | | Darren | | | | | Use the Gerbers to create an epoxy stencil and do away with programming the dispensor. Screen printing the glue is faster and more consistant/accurate. | Hi Darren, I think Jim hit the nail..- but if you ahve no other choice.... IMO it�s a hard job to create the program out of gerber data or even extended gerber. If you have the component list with the centercoordinates of all parts it�s much easier. 1. calculate the offset from data origin to your dispenser origin 2. add/subtract dot-offset from center if necessary 3. add and calculate number of additional dots and their offsets depending on part or just your gusto 4. add machine specific information to your list 5. convert to ASCII or whatever format you need

I think Excel is a good choice to do all the calculating stuff and it gives you the opportunity to save the result in different formats. Sometimes you have to do some cosmetics with simple text editors. It�s nice to have part-data-base with all the information about offsets, number of dots ... and some macros that help with your calculations. First time you set up your database and define a matchcode, it�s growing with each new job. Did this kind of programming many years and it became easier and faster with each job. Happy hacking Wolfgang

reply »

| | Does anyone know the best way to program my Camelot glue dispenser off line? I really like the machine, it just takes me too long to program it. We do contract work so I can get gerber data for all (most) of my assemblies. I need to get these programs out faster and I would prefer to use some kind of windows software. Please let me know what options I have. | | | | Thanks, | | Darren | | | | | Use the Gerbers to create an epoxy stencil and do away with programming the dispensor. Screen printing the glue is faster and more consistant/accurate. | Sometimes, the dispenser is the only option. I have to get glue down on boards that are going through changes. I am talking about component physical location changes. Board designs are evolving where I reside. After a revision is ok'd and ready for production, a stencil is used. But not always. If the board may be obsoleted in the future, I will stick with the dispensing. I like my Camalot.

Anyway, Darren, use Excel. You can probably make a macro that takes the two Gerber locations per part and combines them to one while developing the centroid. Hope this helps.

reply »

| Does anyone know the best way to program my Camelot glue dispenser off line? I really like the machine, it just takes me too long to program it. We do contract work so I can get gerber data for all (most) of my assemblies. I need to get these programs out faster and I would prefer to use some kind of windows software. Please let me know what options I have. | | Thanks, | Darren | Darren: Some CAD to CAM software packages do an excellant job of converting Gerber position data to XY machine positioning data. This software has two elements. (1) a general Geber to placement position converter. (2) A converter between the general position information and the requirements of a specific machine.

So, the key issue is: does the supplier of converter software have a module that works with your machine? If not, either they will have to write one for you, or you will have to be creative, or use some of the fine suggestions others have been providing you in this thread.

Some suppliers of CAD to CAM conversion software are:

Fabmaster USA, 3350 Scott Blvd Bldg 30 Santa Clara CA 95054 408.987.2260 fax 970 9319 Unicam (UniCAM) 603.431.9411fax9516 GC-Place (GraphiCode) 206.672.1980 fax2705 Mountlake Terrance, WA Unisoft 203.925.2980 fax2985 Rich LaRue Aegis ISC (Circuit CAM) 215.643.3162 Jason Spera Mitron (GenRad) (CIMBridge) 10795 SW. Cascade Blvd Portland, OR 97223 (503) 624-1776 fax (503) 968-1666 Martin Oakes (508.481.0023) http://www.mitron.com/

Good luck

Dave F

reply »

CAMALOT have a really good conversion system, COPS. It takes the placment machine data, which you have to generate anyway, and converts this instantly to the glue or solder pattern of the board required. You can also edit this file to change all the settings required. Works great, costs lots, but if you do a lot of this it is well worth it.

reply »

| Does anyone know the best way to program my Camelot glue dispenser off line? I really like the machine, it just takes me too long to program it. We do contract work so I can get gerber data for all (most) of my assemblies. I need to get these programs out faster and I would prefer to use some kind of windows software. Please let me know what options I have. | | Thanks, | Darren | Darren,

Wolfgang's method works (and is clever), but there is another way to easily program a CAMALOT. We have been using Circuitcam to convert gerber and CAD into programs for our TP9 and other outputs, but we recently bought the CAMALOT interface. It allows graphical setup of glue and paste patterns with macros that make it easy and fast to program. Going from just a CAD file out to the machine takes about 20 minutes even if we have to set up new pattern libraries. Circuitcam is at www.circuitcam.net if you want to check it out. Hope this helps.

Kathy

reply »