Criteria for selecting feeders

A basic requirement for any automatic placement system is that the components must be presented to the placement machine in a way that the machine tooling can properly locate and pick up the component. When selecting the type of component feeder, a number of factors need to be taken into account:

• Cost-effectiveness
• Protection against component damage during handling, transportation, and processing
• The minimisation of any tendency of the components to turn in the feeder, and hence reverse their polarity
• The retention of component identity
• The possibility of using bar codes to verify component identity
• Fast, simple changeover when changing batches
• The number of components in each unit of packaging
• High feed rate during placement
• Broad availability of components on the world market
• The possibility of environmentally friendly disposal of any packaging used
• Low space requirement
• Low weight
• Easy storage.

Inevitably a compromise will have to be reached between these, bearing in mind the requirements of the task and the budget available.

[ back to top ]