Process Improvement

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Every process is only as good as the data that was used to set it up. Today, most processes related to PCB Assembly as well as other “recipe”-based, multi-step manufacturing processes use CAD data to program automated equipment.  

The common assumption is that all of the parts coming together in these processes exactly match the CAD data. This assumption can be costly, given the fact that every part coming together for a process has additive tolerances and other issues that can dramatically impact throughput and finished piece quality. 

The fact is, there are differences between the CAD data and the actual parts in process. Today’s automated machines work hard to allow for these variances, incorporate on-board vision systems to help take corrective action, etc.   

Simple common sense would be to “confirm” that all of the physical parts coming together do so properly, PRIOR to entering full production. This is easier said than done when considering today’s parts can have up to a million or more 25 um features on something the size of a sheet of notebook paper (i.e., a solder paste stencil for a semiconductor wafer). A 99.99% inspection isn’t acceptable. This means that there are potentially 100 errors in the one million features.

Actual Customer Example: The image below shows 102 errors in 342K features on a wafer bump stencil.  This small error rate of 0.0003 is rendering over 90% of the parts defective!  

wafer bump stencil

ScanCAD’s process improvement services can look at each of the parts coming together, first to compare the part to the original CAD data, to see if they match and are in tolerance. Following that, we can adjust the CAD data to match the real-life parts to facilitate tighter production, mitigate defects and minimize additive tolerances.

The following scatter chart from a published Motorola Study (SMT Magazine) shows such an adjustment for downstream processes. In this study, solder paste defects were reduced 43% in a 125,000 part study by simply adjusting the data used to fabricate a solder paste stencil to more accurately match the part on which the stencil was to be used. The scatter chart on the left shows the results of using the original CAD data to fabricate stencils for downstream production whereas the chart on the right shows the results of simply adjusting the stencil CAD data to better match the actual parts in production. Real parts don’t exactly match CAD data.

The same results are being documented when adjusting automated component placement machine data to better match the parts on which they are placing components. More accurate placements dramatically reduce placement defects such as tombstoning, etc.  

It’s just common sense!

Using our Process Improvement service allows our customers to reduce rework & scrap by adjusting or tweaking CAD data to better match the parts in production.  

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Trade shows

ScanCAD participates in many trade shows during the year, whether in ScanCAD's own booth or by way of our distributor/OEM.

Dallas Expo and Tech Forum
March 19, 2024
Plano, TX USA
Southwest Systems Booth

Houston Expo and Tech Forum
March 21, 2024
Staford, TX USA
Southwest Systems Booth

APEX 2024
April 9-11, 2024
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California
Booth 3206

SMTA Guadalajara Expo & Tech Forum
September  11-12, 2024
Guadalajara, Mexico
ScanCAD/USM Reps  Booth 201

DMC 2024
December 2-5, 2024
Austin, TX USA
ScanCAD Booth 122

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Trade shows

ScanCAD participates in many trade shows during the year, whether in ScanCAD's own booth or by way of our distributor/OEM.

Guadalajara Expo and Tech Forum
October 25 and 26, 2023
Chihuahua City, Mexico
EXPO GUADALAJARA
USM Reps Booth

TPCA Show
October 25-27, 2023
Taipei , Taiwan
Microsys Booth

PRODUCTRONICA 2023
November 14-17, 2023
Munich, Germany
GS Electronic Booth

DMC 2023
December 11-14, 2023
Music City Center
Nashville, Tennessee
Booth 314

APEX 2024
April 9-11, 2024
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California
Booth 3206

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