you might want to explore to add a color LED for illumination.  try a  
battery powered one and see if it gets better (angle illumination).
my 2 cents.
       jk
On Sep 5, 2014, at 12:00 PM, Gumpert, Ben wrote:

> I've seen this problem from time to time, and it can be a real  
> headache.
> It seems like the fiducials are just the right size for this to be  
> a problem with the HASL finish.
>
> Has anyone tried a different size fiducial, or different shape/ 
> pattern that might not have the same problem?
> (Although I'm sure anything different would cause problems with a  
> lot of equipment.)
>
> Ben
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Guy Ramsey
> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2014 11:34 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: EXTERNAL: Re: [TN] NOT Recognizing Panel Fiducials at  
> paste printer.
>
> In my experience, the copper, without HASL is worse than the HASL,  
> for those old printers and placers.
> We resorted to machine eraser.
> http://www.dickblick.com/products/sakura-cordless-electric-eraser/
> We cleaned the board fiducials at receiving inspection.
>
> Gold will be more repeatable but I would think a switch from HASL  
> to ENIG would be a major change. If it is a real simple design and  
> HASL has good yields, I would expect ENIG to introduce more  
> problems than it solves. It did in my case.  We probably could have  
> resolved the soldering problems by tweaking the reflow and wave  
> settings. But, we went back to HASL. The buyer and the plant  
> manager made the call.
>
> Immersion tin and immersion silver change color too. I bet your  
> machines would have trouble with it. My experience with this  
> problem dates back to the age of your old printers. Immersion Tin  
> and Silver have been greatly improved since then.
>
> Wish I could be more help.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jim West
> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2014 9:47 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [TN] NOT Recognizing Panel Fiducials at paste printer.
>
> Thanks for the replies.  We build many thousands of this board so I  
> was looking for a more permanent suggestion to give our board  
> supplier.  My thought was having the board supplier NOT apply  
> solder (HASL) to the fiducials.  Is this possible? Any other  
> suggestion for a more permanent solution that our board house could  
> implement without major changes (i.e.
> Immersion tin, or gold....).  Major change would require an older  
> board going through customer approval.
>
> Best Regards,
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ioan TEMPEA
> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2014 7:52 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [TN] NOT Recognizing Panel Fiducials at paste printer.
>
> Jim,
>
> Removing the solder from the fiducials, using a solder wick,  
> normally takes care of the issue.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ioan Tempea, P. Eng.
> Manufacturing Engineer
> Satellite Systems
> MDA
> 21025 TransCanada Highway
> Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Qc, Canada H9X 3R2
> Tel: +1-514-457-2150-3556
> www.mdacorporation.com
>
> This e-mail, and any attachments, are intended solely for the use  
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> proprietary and/or confidential information. Any use, disclosure,  
> dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail and any  
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> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] De la part de Stephen Gregory  
> Envoyé :
> Thursday, September 04, 2014 4:29 PM À : [log in to unmask] Objet :  
> Re: [TN] NOT Recognizing Panel Fiducials at paste printer.
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> An old trick that I've used many times when the camera doesn't  
> recognize a fiducial is to take a pencil eraser to it...
>
> Steve
>
> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
>   Original Message
> From: Jim West
> Sent: Thursday, September 4, 2014 2:05 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Reply To: TechNet E-Mail Forum
> Subject: [TN] NOT Recognizing Panel Fiducials at paste printer.
>
> Our paste printers are having difficulty recognizing the fiducials  
> on an older board that has been running for years. The board house  
> is applying HASL and because of that, as most are aware, the solder  
> covering the fiducial pad will be inconsistent. I'm told that this  
> has been an ongoing issue and the problem comes and goes.
> We have three printers that are older that do not allow us to  
> adjust the lighting.
>
> I can't remember if we can have the board house apply HASL on just  
> the component pads and not the fiducials? Any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
>
>
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