Printed Circuit Board Assembly & PCB Design SMT Electronics Assembly Manufacturing Forum

Printed Circuit Board Assembly & PCB Design Forum

SMT electronics assembly manufacturing forum.


SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS

james

#34596

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 27 May, 2005

We are currently having problems with our SPM AV Screen printer. It is an intermitant problem, sometimes it will make a loud noise as the stencil is going down on top of the board and sometimes it does not meet its destination. Sometimes the machine wont reset and freezes in the Z axis and I have to shut it down then it is fine after I reset one more time. It seems to not be the same problem each time sometimes its the z and other times it is the squeegee carriage or the blades not moving correctly. I am not sure what is going on but if anyone else has seen this problem, please advise.

Thanks

reply »

cmiller

#34600

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 27 May, 2005

Could be a lot of things but try this, on the SPM that we have the lead screw that moves the blades up and down runs through a piece of threaded plastic. When it strips out, it starts to cause all kinds of wierd problems. The replacement part we got from MPM is of a better design so there must have been lots of problems with it.

reply »

cmiller

#34601

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 27 May, 2005

One more thing, check the serial connection to the PC in the back of the machine, If its intermitant, you will have all kinds of problems as well.

reply »

KEN

#34614

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 28 May, 2005

I have had two of these machines in the past. From what I can remember...

Z-axis: Bad Sound going down...probably belt is out of time and is binding or a bad stepper motor. Bad sound going up...could be belt timing or a bad stepper motor.

Bad motor driver is a possibility. I can not recall if those motors / drivers were PacScientific. But, given the vintage of the platform age is against you.

If destinations are not achieved (sensors not satisfied)....this could cause the machine to freeze up. You would expect an error message (in a perfect world).

My experience has been to take care of the obvious things first. It is irelevent whether you think they are related or not. Some times taking care of the obvious is the root of the problem.

reply »

MikeaJ

#34618

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 28 May, 2005

I agree with Ken, the root cause could very well be obvious. However, take a look at the following items, these checks only take a minute to accomplish. 1. If your stepper drivers are the older 5410 Pac Sci modules, check for melted power connectors at the driver, they may be orange or green. 2. Check the small molex connector on the Z stepper motor, ensure the crimps are good, and this connector is also free of charring/melting. 3. Check your Z belt for proper tension and for debris/solder paste in grooves of belt. Please take care when examining the belt, you don't want to knock the pulleys out of sync (unless they already are) 4. You may need to call MPM on this next one. On older machines, this was a recurring issue do to a circuit design issue on one of the boards down below. The remedy was to simply cut two 1/4 watt resistors out of the circuit, and you were on your way. It was listed as a service Bulletin. This was of course omitted on newer machines. 5. Possible bad or dirty Photo sensor. Test accordingly through I/O. Clean and or replace.

Best of Luck,

Mike

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

reply »

Just my thoughts

#34619

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 28 May, 2005

This is somewhat a hard question: Have You ever concider to contact Your manufactor servive engineer?! I have been seeing a lot of "machine specific" questions here in this forum and I must wonder if this forum is to help people out when there is a need or Not??!

In most cases where You have a problem with your machine; don't hesitate to contact Your local machine vendor service engineer!! Don't even think that You are capable to "pass on" information to the poor service guy, who is gonna do the job...

You will find it much cheaper in a long term; to have a proffesional to deal with the problem, rather than yourself trying to get some ideas from a forum like this. What I am trying to say; whithout offending anybody is: let the best man/woman do what they are best in. I don't work for a machine supplier, nor do I have any benefits from such. Just my persional thoughts.

reply »

MikeaJ

#34624

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 29 May, 2005

Dear JMT, I have read your reply, and you have one small valid point. There are times when you should call Technical Support. It is not for us to judge when each individual calls upon that resource, allow me to note a few points: 1. You can't always summons a FSE at a moments notice. FSE's are often on planes and/or calls, making the ability of supplying phone help very difficult. The local call center should be utilized. They have local resources to help with the issue at hand. 2. Not every company has a local vendor right down the street. In the event of remote sites, help can be in several time zones away. In some cases their may be a local sales rep, who cannot always be counted on for technical support. 3. Some companies cannot afford to bring in FSE's the minute a fuse blows. Technicians/operators are usually expected by their management to use every resource available at little cost, and show great effort has been made before onsite help can be brought in. 4. In the case of second owner equipment, it is possible that the registration fee has not been set aside yet, and technical support is not available. Most companies are very strict with providing phone support to second owners due to the high volume of used or abused equipment on the used market. 5. It is also possible that the Technical support has been utilized, and all solutions have been attempted, with no success. At that point, a second opinion is desired. Their is also a chance that the post writer has had a bad experience with tech. support, and they are trying to weed out the simple stuff first. 6. This purpose of this forum is to provide a central area where information can be exchanged freely with other people in this industry who may have had similiar experiences. Knowledge is passed along openly. Consider maybe the post writer has had good success in the past posting on this forum, and is just doing what has worked in the past. A question is put out, and people are usually more than happy to provide feedback. In theory, this forum is open to anyone with internet access. This equates to alot of people, and potentially alot of answers, be it design, process, and yes even equipment related issues.

Mike

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

reply »

KEN

#34626

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 29 May, 2005

This from a person named "just my thoughts"?

As far as "cheaper in the long run" , that can be debatable. Especially at $160 dollars per hour for a FSE. Double rate for weekends. Air fare, hotel, car and per-diem....it adds up fast!

Also, he may not of been able to get through to MPM. Especially since I tied up one phone line until 5:00 PM Friday (befor a long holiday weekend) for a problem with one of our machines.

Cut the kid some slack. I've been in the business for 15 years. We all started out as rookies. Unless you, "just my thoughts" were born with supreme cognition?

Cut the kid some slack.

reply »

#34627

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 29 May, 2005

Look at the lubrication of the three shafts that move the stencil frame (lubricate both sides, up and down) Also check the belt that moves this assy is not loose. If too loose it may have "skiped" one or more of the belts creating this condition.

Good luck

TL

reply »

Value Machine Sales

#34628

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 30 May, 2005

Hello James and Michelle Have been reading this thread and I just have to add my 2 cents. I was under the impression that this site was created with the idea of a place to post a problem and see if some one else may be able to help with a answer. If you have an unlimited amount of money to spend on new equipment and on tech support then for god sake spend it. But if not I would think that this is the right place to go to. Of course most places that spend large amounts of money on tech support is now closed. Oh well now I feel better. Now for the z axis problem--MPM SPM's ( old ones ) had a problem with the power transformer going bad, Yes they know of it and when I was in the field we replaced them at our cost but not now. Go to the back and the transformer at the top left is weak replace with a new one and the z axis will work perfect. And instead of paying the high price buy one at grainger for 1/10th the price of you know who. And just one more point--this machine sounds as if it has more than 1 problem. Just 2 cents from a ex field engineer with about 25 years experience as a field engineer, 11 of them working on MPM's equipment. Harry

reply »

MikeaJ

#34633

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 30 May, 2005

Harry may absolutely be on to something. Although you may have multiple issues, the minute Harry mentioned "transformer", a big bell went off in my head. A retrofit was released a number of years ago to address it. I actually put a few of these in over the years. He is correct, wheras you could go local and acquire your own. I don't know the specs, but I am sure someone out there knows, and would be happy to share (Probably not JMT though.)

Best of luck,

Mike

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

reply »

james

#34690

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 2 June, 2005

So far this is what I found and have not had any problems since. There was a big chunk of the belt torn halfway off and I had to cut part of it. Also there was a connector loose on one of the boards. Thanks for all of your advice.

reply »

james

#34813

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 8 June, 2005

Ok here I go again. I got rid of the last problem but now I am back to a different problem. When the machine sits and I press Reset, the screen reads Starting the Z-axis Homing the Programmable squeeges and just stays there and does nothing. So I E-stop turn it back on and then reset it and it is fine. but then when I run boards after so long the back squeegee stays down and the front one stays up. I then have to turn the machine off again and reset and then it is fine for a little longer. If any one could help it is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

reply »

#34823

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 8 June, 2005

Hey Harry,

That's pretty good coming from someone that hasn't returned 4 of my last 4 phone calls. By the way those last 4 calls would have been definite business for you. Maybe I can only ask you questions or do business with you anonymously on SMTnet ?

reply »

Value Machine Sales

#34831

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 8 June, 2005

Hello We have been on the road and started taking one day a week off. We answer every call that is received, sorry we haven't called but didn't receive. We have had some computer problems but think those have been corrected. Thee-mail address is vmsales@alltel.net and the cell #'s are 740-403-9406 and 740-403-9405 Harry

reply »

#34837

SPM AV SCREEN PRINTER PROBLEMS | 9 June, 2005

Well, You had better fire your secretary then, because I left her the messages.

Anyways.....I'll let it be at that.

Carry on.

reply »

ICT Total SMT line Provider

Electronics Equipment Consignment