Hi,
MYDATA's are ok for lower volume, and they are very flexible. If you only have 1 or 2 trays of components and are on a tight budget, then you can even place the trays on the Y wagon behind the PCB so you can get away without the tray wagon.
Also, I really recommend you get the Line Scan Camera option if your doing smaller semiconductors and chip components on the HYDRA. The older HYDTA camera was problematic, and the newer line scan camera can scan everything, not just HYDRA components, and is much more accurate.
Also, if you are going to be placing passive chip components, then you really need to get the HYDRA camera, and get a bigger machine than a MY-9. This is because you need to repeat some component values on feeders to get optimization.
Your also going to want to get a machine with the Agillis feeders for 8 mm tapes, as they are much faster to change over. I have not been impressed with the Agillis for 12 and 16mm components, and we are selling our MYDATA and upgrading to other machines because of it.
Overall the MYDATA works well for lower volumes, and is very flexible. It can even pick components out of tapes stuck to the tray or Y wagons, but it's also crappie when volumes increase, and you get a lot of problems, and we need to visually inspect every board we load before the oven. But for an entry level machine, I would get another if it was starting up and needed something cost effective, and flexible.
You might want to check with MYDATA and if the machine you are looking at purchasing has the latest software etc. They have made good improvements in later software, and the HYDRA head is faster and more flexible. If it's older, you might need to get it upgraded, and it might cost a little.
Overall though, the MYDATA machines would make a good second hand purchase, as they are solid, and MYDATA seems very flexible and friendly, so they won't hit you too hard if your trying to bring up an older machine to latest software etc. MYDATA machines as still based on the same basic construction as they have used for a while, so even a fairly old machine should be able to be updated to the latest speeds and software.
I hope this helps!
Regards,
Grant
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