Wayne,

 

I know the MyData (Micronics) product. I work with two companies using the MY600. 

 

They are in Denver and the lower air pressure at 1 mile high was an issue.

 

We had a big stink with the machines as they really don't work well with gerber files for paste. What MyData envisions is a user with complete access to and knowledge of the design CAD files. The MY600 software required that paste gerber apertures be grouped into part instances. MyData called this "Digitizing" input gerbers I called it a royal PITA.

 

I had part definitions that identified both part centers and pad location. I was able, with significant effort, to generate a GenCAD file from the paste gerber files, worked fairly well. The major problem is that paste files often contain area that are non-part related. The paste areas for a solder down shield for example. Center thermals are a big issue. When you get an existing board with windowed paste on thermal pads it creates a nightmare with the library management. All the window panes look like "Extra Pins" on the parts. I had to synthesize "Fake Pins" and "Fake Parts" to get everything into the GenCAD file. (And this was long before "Fake News" 😊 )

 

I have seen "Pin in Paste" work very well, much better than I expected. This does require that you edit paste definitions in a tool. MyData can provide this but it is nice to drive all manufacturing data through a company database somehow. It is nice to integrate all the systems but not many CMs want to be software development houses at the same time.

 

Check with Mycronics maybe they updated their software. But beware, Mycronic sales are notorious for telling you anything to make a sale. And I mean REALLY bad. But the MY600 is a gem. My customer saves almost $1K a day at times on purchased stencils. And they were already merging multiple jobs onto a single 20 x 20 stencil. Stencil storage is not eliminated but it drops 40db. The first time I looked at a MY600 printed board my jaw dropped. Beautiful but expensive.

 

Bob K.

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Wayne Showers
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2018 2:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] Solder paste jet printers - Experience?

 

I am seriously looking into getting a solder paste jet printer for my small volume, quick turn work.  I am wondering if anyone has relatable experience that they would share?