Thanks for asking. We design and build our own products and I would consider us a "medium volume" manufacturer. Our production runs are typically low volume with less than 250 assemblies in each run and each assembly typically having 15-50 parts each. Changeover and setup is our biggest problem. Smallest components to date are 0603 and no BGAs or fine pitch parts. Lenny ERG www.ergpower.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gervascio, Thomas" <[log in to unmask]> To: "TechNet E-Mail Forum" <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:13 PM Subject: RE: [TN] Pcik-n-place equipment Important to consider your business- are you a high volume, low mix shop or a high mix, low volume shop. I have experience with Siemens SiPlace, Fuji CP-643 and IP-2 , Universal GSM and HSP and MyData MY9 and MY19. All of them are solid machines- never had any Panasonic data. We're in a high mix enviroment and we spend more time kitting and setting up jobs than actually running them. So raw placement time is not the driver for us. I like the MyData MY series for several reasons- easy to reprogram trays and tape, AutoTeach makes setting up a new component very easy- no messing around with data sheets, if you have insufficient feeder slots for a given board you can run the board with the available feeders and the machine will place what parts it has available (the machine will then stop) and then reload the rest of the feeders and continue the same board. Also we have to use component traceability for date code and batch numbers and their MyLabel system fits the bill nicely for us. Like the Agilis feeders also. Main things to look at are easy of programming, repeatability and accuracy (01005 components, microBGA- chipscale, long SMT connectors (longer than 50mm in length), control over accelerations (table and gantry accelerations- comes in handy with high profile SMT devices with small leads like inductors), installed base of machines and availability of tech support and parts, etc. Tom -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lenny Carter Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:48 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Pcik-n-place equipment Howdy again. We currently own 2 Essemtec pick-n-place machines and are growing and may need to add another line or replace one of the 2 we have. My only experience is with these 2 Essemtec machines ( CLM9000 & FLX2020). A couple of our users are familiar with Universal, Hitachi, Fuji, and Panasonic machines and have made recommendations to go with them instead. knowing little about any other equipment- I am asking for input here. What is the general consensus with pick and place machine manufacturers? who builds "the standard", and who builds junk? who would you recommend we consider? and who would you recommend we avoid? Has anyone else had experience with Essemtec pick and place equipment? how do they compare? Thanks in advance. Lenny Carter Design Engineer ERG, Inc. ph (607) 754-9187 x3063 www.ergpower.com --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------