JoAnn, There are major BENEFITS to third party program software like Unicam or Mitrons' Cimmbridge software. Both companies have a similar product, and have been around long enough to be able to offer modules for most any machine out there. Cost is really pretty reasonable too, considering the benefits: 1) The ability to directly take most major CAD programs data and convert it into machine programming info. This can be done for most any machine out there today, SMD or through-hole, if desired. You simply purchase the "module" software pack for each machine, and a module for your CAD pkg. 2) The ability to program mfg'ing lines with mixed-platform equipment. Their software is capable of balancing the line, even if you have a FUJI CP-6 chip shooter and a Universal GSM-1 flexible placer. This is something individual equip'mnt mfg'rs software cannot do. 3) Also, the production planner can enter in the next 10 assemblies to be run that week, and the optimizing software can generate the most time-saving "common" feeder set-up for all ten. 4) They also provide modules that do a good job of taking this info and easily creating color hard-copy, or on-line process documents. Of course, there is a down side: 1) It takes a CONSIDERABLE effort to create a parts data library that can be used for all equipment, but once completed, it makes programming life EASY! If you haven't generated one yet for individual equipment, now is a great time to implement something like this. Also, sometimes existing parts data libraries can be copied. 2) There is some time-consuming line/configuration set-up effort required. You are best to get CAD personnel and Mfg'ing Eng'rs buy-in right from the start. IMOP, these packages are excellent, especially if there is even a SLIM chance that you will be running mixed platforms in the future. They are also much better then anything the eqp'mnt mfg'rs or CAD mfg'rs can create, and the sooner you can implement this, the EASIER. The programming and line-balancing time savings, if you run low volume, high-mix, can be considerable! (sheesh, I should be getting a sales commission!) Anyway, please feel free to contact me directly with more ?'s if you would like some unbiased 3rd party unabashed opinions ;^) Good luck! United Technology Electronic Controls Jeff L. Hempton, Sr. SMD Engineer 3650 West 200 North Huntington, In 46750-9002 Phone: 219-359-3514 Fax: 219-358-0695 E-mail: [log in to unmask] ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: [TN] Need advice/recommendations Author: JoAnn Amerson <[log in to unmask]> at Internet Date: 5/6/98 3:29 PM Hi TechNetter's! Next Tuesday a rep from Unicam will be coming here to show us how nifty their product is. One of the problems we have is having to feed our Mydata pick and place machine data manually. I was able to create a report using Cadstar's report generator but it still needing someone to tweak it to fit the format. Unicam says they can do that with their software now - no tweaking necessary. I was actually able to talk the boss into attending this meeting! Woo hoo! My questions are: 1) What kind of questions should we (meaning the designers) ask them? Is there anything I can be doing as the librarian to make this job easier/smoother? 2) Who else makes this kind of software? 3) Anyone else out there using Unicam? What's your opinion of the product and of the company? I'm looking forward some good answers. Please don't let me down. I'd like to walk into that meeting with the senior designer and blow him out of the water by showing them that I've done my homework. I know for a fact that he doesn't know much if anything about this and I do because of the work I did earlier for that department. It mayn't be much but I'm not going in there clueless. Thanks in advance! JoAnn L. Amerson Design Librarian Red Lion Controls, Inc. E-mail: [log in to unmask] Voice: (717) 767-6961 ext 6308 ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311 ################################################################ ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311 ################################################################