Automated inspection solutions at SMTconnect

One hundred percent reliability and achieving zero defect processes are essential in electric vehicle and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Therefore, electronic assemblies of automotive PCB processes must meet the highest quality manufacturing standards.

To meet these customer needs in PCB optical and X-ray inspection in the SMT process, OMRON solutions guarantee the quality of PCB components and the strength of solder joints. Automatic full inspection offers extremely high inspection accuracy and eliminates defective products and any inspection variations caused by manual work. 

OMRON provides manufactures with user-friendly in-line inspection machines that can be easily implemented in the manufacturing line, offering reliable and robust performance. 

At SMTconnect, among the highlights is the new VT-M121 Series automated visual inspection (AVI) solution, offering high accuracy and repeatability measurement of dimensions on PCB assemblies, including pre and post SMT process assemblies with the goal to automate existing manual inspection processes to a range of in-line automated inspection solutions. 

It combines the strength of OMRON’s multi-direction and multi-colour MDMC light and the high-speed FH camera system, which makes finding the ideal inspection settings easier and faster. Combined with vibration suppression control technology, the complete solution ensures highly accurate high-speed inspection. 

Also showcased is the powerful VT-X750 system, which utilises high speed Computed Tomography (3D-CT) for non-destructive testing of the visible and non-visible solder joints. It provides the highest-level inspection quality with detectability only possible with CT. The 3D reconstruction algorithm of the system also enables full inspection of for example ball grid array (BGA), land grid array (LGA), as well as insertion components. 

Kevin Youngs, European Sales Manager at OMRON’s Automated Inspection Systems Division in Europe, commented: “With over 30 years of experience in PCB inspection systems, we continuously endeavour to improve quality and productivity, with the quality information of the inspection system as a starting point. In the past year, we have intensified our efforts in the SMT process to automate the dimension and visual inspections, which used to depend on manual work. These new solutions are the result of our continuous investment in research and development and together with our customers we aim for zero defects.”

In addition to ensuring the highest quality, manufacturers need production solutions that are more flexible, faster and more customisable than ever before. OMRON demonstrates at SMTconnect how the combination of inspection and precision control together with mobile and collaborative robots enables the highest levels of manufacturing line flexibility to address consumer demand for increased customisation, without the need to reconfigure a line. 

OMRON’s intelligent, integrated and interactive innovative-Automation! solutions, including sensing, safety, motion, robotics and control, help manufacturers achieve flexibility and higher OEE, while ensuring maximum safety and quality.