Printers!

We chose the MPM over the DEK. We did real world comparison in our factory with both machines almost side by side last year. MPMs offer a real windows based software that basically takes the operator out of the equation. Besides the basic screen printer features – programmable head, auto tooling, auto support, single / double / triple board transfer, etc. The machine can actually be “programmed”. An example is the machine has the capability to have a hierarchy of inspection. So you can set the inspection so that it has to look at critical pads on your board, and if your placement machine is still busy, it will move onto the 2nd hierarchy of inspection. It will continue to inspect the 2nd tier of components until your placement machine calls for the board. Then it will stop inspecting and pass along the board. An added feature is you can program the machine to inspect only every X board if you wish. A nice feature is you can program the machine to inspect only every X board if you wish. You can copy and paste inspection areas on panelized boards too. As for cleaning the machine can be set up to clean itself after X amount of boards AND/OR after an X amount of time AND/OR if a certain occurrence happens. Same thing for paste knead function. It has the capability to have a hierarchy of inspection too. So you can set the inspection so that it has to look at critical pads on your board, and if your placement machine is still busy, it will move onto the 2nd hierarchy of inspection. It will continue to inspect the 2nd tier of components until your placement machine calls for the board. Then it will stop inspecting and pass along the board. You can program your own fiducials for boards and stencils. You can add a paste verification to avoid putting a board in backwards. And the machine gathers a myriad of data that can be used for SPC or CpK study. The one thing about the new MPM platform is you will need an engineer to set a lot of your criteria up ahead of time. We did not like the under stencil wiper paper feature. It shows you how much paper is left by a percentage number (100% to 0%). BUT if you get the length of your paper wrong, this can be miss leading. DEK offers a very reliable machine too. They offer the standard printer features as well, plus all the data gathering, but the machine cannot be “programmed”. So once you turn on a function, it’s on. It does a fast job of inspecting the entire board which is impressive. It did have a tendency to false call on our older stencils that had coining, or slight defects in the metal foil. This was our number one complaint of the machine. DEK offers an entire line of added screen printing items like Nano-Coating, frameless stencils, board supports, etc. This in itself is pretty impressive. I cannot recommend a printer for YOUR company as our needs and capabilities as well as board design are probably completely different from your company. I would make it a point to visit each company and determine for yourself.

reply »

Hi,

I like DEK better. Each of them will have some advantages over the other one, but DEK Horizon software you can learn in a day without opening the manual. It is so easy to work with it.

reply »