Printer claims precision, speed and flexibility

The X3 is a fully automatic high-performance inline printer claimed to set new standards in cost-efficient manufacturing and maintainability.

The X3 is a fully automatic, high performance inline printer with integrated CAN-open control, which sets new standards in cost-efficient manufacturing and maintainability.

The open architecture of the control element also allows for future additions and expansions.

In the same class as all Ekra printers, the X3 excels in high reliability and low down times, and offers an excellent price/performance ratio.

The easy to use graphical interface simplifies operation with clearly structured, self-explanatory functions, while the user friendly help function offers intuitive user-handling to minimise the risk of operator error.

The X3 inline printer is able to upload different sizes of stencils and process them automatically.

The printer has a stencil frame of 737 x 737mm, and can take stencil and screen frame sizes from 300 x 300 to 737 x 737mm.

The maximum print area ranges from 50 x 50 to 460 x 460mm.

Prior to starting the printing process, the patented Ekra vision alignment system (EVAT), which is equipped with two high-resolution CCD cameras, automatically detects the position and location of the fiducials and aligns the PCB accordingly.

The camera module measures the fiducials, while the camera itself moves between the stencil and the substrate.

Faulty substrates are recognised and eliminated by measuring the fiducial positions and distances.

This indicates whether there is a distortion, and any bad PCBs can be removed from the process without disrupting the production flow.

The highest precision comes as standard with this high performance printer, as with all Ekra products.

The camera complies with +/-12.5um at 6 sigma, an accuracy never before achieved in a system of this price.

The X3 printer is fully network-compatible and can be integrated into existing company networks.

The latest software upgrades with Internet access, remote diagnosis should problems occur and complete traceability provide a new level for manufacturing operations.

During the printing process EKRA's 2.5D patented inspection system controls the printing results.

The system checks the stencil apertures and can recognise any obstructions or impurities before they are able to create defects.

If the system discovers a blocked stencil aperture, which falls below an adjustable acceptance level, it will automatically execute a stencil cleaning routine.

After cleaning the stencil is again tested to ensure the problem has been solved.

Following the printing process, the control function measures the quantity of paste on the pads and is then able to recognise whether there are any shorts between the solder paste fillets.

The system can also recognise other materials, such as silver conductive paste and SMD glue.

Inspection frequency can be adjusted individually for stencil and PCB inspection.

The generation of programs is very simple and easy-to-learn, and furthermore, the inspection system offers the advantage that it "learns" from the stencil.

Therefore, reductions and overprints can be automatically recognised so that the operator does not need search through component libraries or software upgrades for new components, uncommon layouts or unknown modules.

Programs can also be generated offline while the machine is running and uploaded when needed.

An automatic stencil wiper, with freely selectable cleaning programs, reliably and effectively cleans the underside and apertures of the stencil, either by dry or wet cleaning or with vacuum cleaning.

It is also possible to program a combination of wet, dry and vacuum cleaning processes.

The systems can therefore be set to provide the optimum results for any production process.

The automatic stencil wiper has a speed-controlled, permanent paper supply, with a display that holds paper in reserve.

An improved high performance vacuum system makes changing the cleaning paper very simple to manage and without any tools.

The X3 printer works with Ekra's patented Crossflow, the most advanced squeegee system available.

Crossflow is a newly developed, closed-loop squeegee system for high speed printing.

It offers the option of processing on several print media, including PCBs, ceramics, wafers and flexible substrates.

A further important advantage of the X3 is that it can be used either as a screen or a stencil printer.

Fast program setup and changeover enables the operator to quickly and easily change between printing methods.

Roland Heynen, Executive Vice President of Ekra, commented: "With the X3 printer we can offer our customers a fully automatic high performance machine with an excellent price/performance ratio.

The X3 offers the kind of functionality that sets new standards in precision, speed and flexibility".

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