Product category: PCB Assembly Equipment and Tools
News Release from: DEK | Subject: Grid-Lok
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 25 July 2003
More options for printer tooling
DEK has expanded its range of advanced tooling options through a joint sales and marketing agreement with Ovation Products
DEK has expanded its range of advanced tooling options through a joint sales and marketing agreement with Ovation Products, a division of Airline Hydraulics Corporation, to expand the choices available to customers selecting tooling for DEK printers. Grid-Lok has been developed by technology innovation specialist Ovation, and is similar in concept to DEK's FormFlex conforming tooling system.
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 25 July 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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According to DEK's Martin Symons, the two alternatives are complementary.
'For ease of use and the fastest setup, customers should choose Grid-Lok.
But for optimum paste volume repeatability leading to enhanced print quality, especially with thin or flexible boards, FormFlex is the way to go', he said.
'Having both these solutions available to us now allows us to answer all our customers' needs'.
Grid-Lok features a modular array of pneumatically controlled tooling pins that conform to the underside of the board including contact with components.
The conforming sequence is initiated by the operator, and is ready for use within 2s or alternatively in fully automatic mode the system can set its profile for every product which passes through the machine.
Like FormFlex, Grid-Lok eliminates programming time from tooling setup, to minimise machine down time and raise throughput and productivity.
Ovation has worked with DEK to ensure compatibility between its Grid-Lok system and DEK's tooling requirements, which is common to Infinity, Horizon and ELA, Viking-class and Micron-class screen printers.
Tooling pins are tipped with anti-static material, and are locked independently.
Pressure exerted by a pin during lift is approximately 5 grams.
Grid-Lok arrays are capable of working with boards from 50 x 50 to 500 x 500mm.
As part of the agreement between the two companies, Ovation will continue to develop Grid-Lok, and will work with other manufacturers of SMT equipment including placement machines to expand the number of applications for Grid-Lok.
DEK will continue to develop, market and support FormFlex, which has been successfully applied at many DEK customer sites and is particularly beneficial when support for densely populated boards is required.
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