Apr 07, 2008 
Charles Moncavage, GM, has reported that the company�s patent pending dispense module will expand the capabilities of conventional screen printers by enabling the user to dispense SMT adhesive or solder paste on a PCB, immediately following the screen print operation while it is still in alignment from the screen print.
The small and lightweight dispense module is coupled to the printer�s vision system by an electro-pneumatic interface that allows the entire module to be removed and reinstalled on the printer in seconds for ease of maintenance and material changeover. Once the PCB is screen printed (as normal), it is separated from the stencil and lowered back to �vision height� at which time the camera/Stinger will accurately dispense adhesive or paste (from industry standard cartridges) on a virtually unlimited number of user-defined sites while dynamically adjusting the dispense tip height, in case of board warpage, with its laser compensating servo-controlled Z-axis.
The system is field retrofit capable and eliminates the need for the added floor space, cost and maintenance associated with a dedicated inline dispenser. Additionally, Stinger technology is said to save time and improve quality in SMT operations where the PCB is taken off-line (post-print) for manual dispensing.
Ovation Products is known throughout the world for SMT process enhancements such as the multiple award winning Grid-lok support tooling and Magnaprint universal squeegee systems.
Premiering in 2008, the NPI Awards program is an annual celebration of product excellence in electronics surface mount assembly. Premier products based on the finest examples of creative advancement in technology are chosen by a distinguished panel of industry experts.
