With any manual inspection process, to get the optimal results, you need an inspection system that is designed properly to provide:
In addition to meeting the above criteria, the inspection system must be COST EFFECTIVE. In today's marketplace, everyone is cost-conscious and that means reduced operating overhead.
The AV100 Stereoscopic Video system meets all of the above criteria and is extremely cost effective. Let's examine the system in more detail.
The concept is a Stereo Microscope coupled with a Video Inspection System using a Static Safe, X, Y, Rotary, Worktable for part positioning. The system is configured with a Stereo Microscope and a special oblique viewing accessory for true 360 degree theta rotation around components. This oblique viewer allows the operator to view around parts without actually moving the part. The oblique viewer allows for user adjustable viewing angles between 20 and 90 degrees, so that all components can be viewed at the proper angle. Top down viewing will not reveal defects on SMD applications. Oblique viewing is essential. The optical image from the stereoscope is processed through a high resolution, color, CCD Camera and ultimately viewed on a 13", high resolution, color monitor ( 20" monitor options available).
The System truly provides the best of both worlds. Stereoscopic viewing for fine pitch applications which require microscope resolution and video viewing for ordinary routine inspections.
The color monitor sits on an articulating arm so that the operator can adjust the height and the viewing angle. This allows the operator to be comfortable while inspecting. Many other systems, whether it be solely stereo microscope or Dynascope, require the operator to view the part at fixed positions which are not necessarily comfortable. The result is fatigue, neck pain and eye strain. This means the inspectors are not achieving optimal results. Your outgoing quality levels are not optimum. We've decided on the articulating arm, so the inspectors can always be comfortable and change viewing positions from time to time, minimizing the fatigue factor.
The optical configuration provides long working distances. For instance, under normal magnifications, between 3x and 30x, there is always a minimum of 4" of working distance. The operator can do re-work easily.
The mechanical base offers a static safe, X, Y, rotating table, with adjustable drag and indexing capability. The operator can move the part around freely, at a variety of angles and use the indexing function, to ensure no part of the board is left un-inspected. The table travel is 16 inches in both the X and the Y direction.
Proper lighting is the key to any inspection system. The AV100 system offers gosseneck fiber optic lighting, standard with every system. Fiber Optic Gooseneck Lighting is used so that light can be directed in any obstructed areas and still provide adequate lighting over the remainder of the field of view. This is a real bonus on circuit boards with a high skyline.
Many customers like to take pictures of defects for their quality meetings and to keep as a matter of record. We offer a variety of photography options ranging from a 3" x 5" quick print video system to a Video Disk Recorder.
Measurement options are available as well. This option is useful when making lead pitch measurements, gauging conductor widths and checking placement accuracy. These are just a few examples of how measurement options can be used.
A trade-in program is available so manual inspection systems can be traded in for more advanced systems in the future.