An idea to use laser engraving machine to assist manual welding

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An idea to use laser engraving machine to assist manual welding [Copy link]

 

Engineers who have hand-welded PCBs should have the following feelings. The most time-consuming part of hand-welding is to find the position of components on the PCB by comparing the BOM table. The actual time spent on welding is generally no more than 1/3 of the total time. So the following creative ideas came up: As we all know, mainstream PCB design software can directly export the coordinates of components, and now mainstream SMT also places components according to this coordinate; In this way, we can use the existing laser engraving machine, with a simple host computer, through the coordinate positioning of components, realize the automatic positioning of components, and assist manual welding; This solution can almost shorten the time of component search to zero and shorten the hand welding time by more than half. In fact, this idea is not original to me. I have seen a video of this solution somewhere before (I forgot where), which means that someone abroad has already realized it, but no one in China has done this, so I put forward this idea, and interested netizens can give it a try. If you find this video again, please send it to me and I will attach it.

littleshrimp

Laser engraving machines are too expensive. It should be possible to use a projector.

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littleshrimp posted on 2017-11-23 16:06 Laser engraving machines are too expensive. It should be possible to use a projector

Projectors are more expensive. Laser engraving machines do not need high-power laser heads. They are just simple positioning machines. A laser pen of a few dollars is enough. In comparison, I am more worried about the reaction speed of the three-axis motor. In my impression, the reaction speed of the video I watched was quite fast.

littleshrimp

Posted by Tong Nian Ke Ke on 2017-11-23 16:13 Projectors are more expensive. Laser engraving machines do not need high-power laser heads. They are just simple positioning machines. A laser pen of a few dollars is enough. In comparison...

In my impression, the mechanical arm (focusing lens) of the laser engraving machine is very close to the bottom. Will it affect welding?

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littleshrimp posted on 2017-11-23 16:24 I remember that the mechanical arm (focusing lens) of the laser engraving machine is very close to the bottom. Will it affect welding?

You are talking about the high-end commercial laser engraving machine, but what we need is the kind of low-end artifact that costs about 1,000 yuan.

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littleshrimp posted on 2017-11-23 16:24 I have the impression that the robotic arm (focusing lens) of the laser engraving machine is very close to the bottom. Will it affect welding?

The three-axis transmission method will definitely affect welding, but you can consider converting the two-dimensional dot matrix coordinates into polar coordinates, but the control algorithm will be relatively difficult.

littleshrimp

Posted by Typing Code All Night on 2017-11-23 16:28 The three-axis transmission method will definitely affect welding, but you can consider converting the two-dimensional dot matrix coordinates into polar coordinates, but the control algorithm will...

There is another problem. Usually when welding a board, the board is adjusted according to the position of the weldment, such as direction and position, so that it is more convenient to weld. This involves a re-positioning problem. At least the software needs to know the current position and angle of the board. I feel that this is more difficult.

chunyang

It is of limited significance and may even be counterproductive. I might as well just use a cheap desktop SMT machine. When I solder boards manually, the time spent searching for components will never take up 2/3 of the workload. I design the circuits and PCBs myself, and I know exactly where the components of different specifications are.

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littleshrimp posted on 2017-11-23 21:43 There is another problem. Usually when welding a circuit board, the circuit board is adjusted according to the position of the weldment, such as the direction and position, so that it is more convenient to weld. This involves...

I am indeed wrong about this issue, but when using it, pay attention to correct it in time, it should not affect the use too much.

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chunyang posted on 2017-11-23 22:47 It is really of limited significance, and it may even be counterproductive. I might as well just use a cheap desktop SMT machine. When I solder a board manually, the time spent searching for components will never take up 2/3 of the workload...

It is definitely easy to find components on a small board with dozens of components, but it is not easy to find components on a large board with hundreds or thousands of components. If you don't check the PCB design drawings, you can't find them. Especially for some compact layouts, you may even have to omit the location for silk screen printing. Without silk screen printing, the welding efficiency will be greatly affected. Of course, it is also wise to choose a SMT machine when necessary.

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chunyang posted on 2017-11-23 22:47 It is really of limited significance, and it may even be counterproductive. I might as well just use a cheap desktop SMT machine. When I solder a board manually, the time spent searching for components will never take up 2/3 of the workload...

It is definitely easy to find components on a small board with dozens of components, but it is not easy to find components on a large board with hundreds or thousands of components. If you don't check the PCB design drawings, you can't find them. Especially for some compact layouts, you may even have to omit the location for silk screen printing. Without silk screen printing, the welding efficiency will be greatly affected. Of course, it is also wise to choose a SMT machine when necessary.

chunyang

Posted by Knocking Code All Night on 2017-11-24 15:34 It is definitely easy to find a small board with dozens of components, but it is not easy to find a large board with hundreds or thousands of components. If you don’t check the PCB design drawings, you can’t find them...

You have to consider practicality. Manual soldering of a large board must constantly move the board, otherwise how can you solder manually? Then positioning is a big problem, and it is even more impractical. It can be said that small boards are not needed, and large boards cannot be used.