Automatic PCB Soldering Robot

Client

Argo Techologies / Shastra University

Product Description

An automatic PCB (Printed Circuit Board) soldering robot is an advanced device designed to automate the process of soldering electronic components onto PCBs, ensuring precision, efficiency, and consistency in electronic manufacturing. This technology addresses the challenges associated with manual soldering, such as human error, variability in solder joints, and time-consuming processes.

This machine is entirely designed and manufactured in India, using no Chinese core components. It offers the same level of functionality and quality as premium automatic soldering robots from leading brands like Japan Unix, which are often prohibitively expensive for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Despite its competitive pricing, comparable to Chinese alternatives, this product provides a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance.

Applications:

Automatic PCB soldering robots are widely used in industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, and medical devices, where high-quality and reliable electronic assemblies are crucial. They are particularly beneficial in scenarios requiring high-volume production or when dealing with complex boards that are challenging to solder manually.

Incorporating an automatic PCB soldering robot into your manufacturing process can lead to significant improvements in product quality, operational efficiency, and overall competitiveness in the market.

Use of Soldering Robot:

High precision: Automatic soldering robots are equipped with advanced motion control systems that provide precise positioning and movement, ensuring accurate soldering of components onto PCBs.
Consistency: By eliminating human error and variability, automatic soldering robots deliver consistent solder joints across a large number of PCBs, resulting in improved product quality and reliability.
Efficiency: Automatic soldering robots can significantly reduce the time required for soldering operations, enabling high-volume production with increased productivity and reduced labor costs.
Flexibility: Automatic soldering robots can be programmed to handle various types of PCBs and components, making them suitable for a wide range of electronic assembly applications.
Safety: Automatic soldering robots are designed with safety features to protect operators from hazards such as high temperatures, fumes, and sharp objects, ensuring a safe working environment.
Connectivity: Some automatic soldering robots are equipped with connectivity features that allow for remote monitoring, programming, and data logging, enabling real-time control and analysis of the soldering process.

Features:

The soldering robot features a 300x300mm movement platform and equipped with well-known Weller 120W soldering system
Advance pneumatic controlled solder tip.
Equipped with 3-axis movement and an automatic tip cleaning system
Built-in camera on the solder tip with live-stream viewing during operation.
Solder metal runout detection with automatic machine stoppage upon metal depletion.The machine will automatically pause and can resume from the same point after reloading the solder wire.
Easy navigation using a joystick for point programming
Touchscreen LCD for intuitive robot control

Working

The automatic PCB soldering robot is divided into three main components:

Mechanical System:
- The machine operates on a 4-axis robotic system, consisting of an X-Y axis gantry, a Z-axis for vertical movement, and a rotational R-axis (manual/automatic).
- It uses a belt and ball screw mechanism for precise motion and stepper motor.
- The soldering head is equipped with a well-known Weller soldering station, mounted on a pneumatically controlled mechanism for quick and accurate up-and-down movement.
- An air-pressured soldering tip unit ensures stable and efficient soldering.
- A Feeder unit which delivers soldering metal to the tip and equipoed runout sensor is integrated to detect when the solder wire is exhausted during operationith
Electronics System:
- The system includes stepper motor drivers, a motion controller, sensors, a power supply, and controller firmware.
- A 32 bit arm controller is used for motion controlling and Trinmaic TMC5160 high quality stepper motor driver is used for controlling stepper motor.
- custom designed firware used to operate and control the motion of stepper motor, motion planning and sensor integration.
Software System:
- The robot is equipped with an Android LCD module that runs a custom desgined Android app for easy programming and operation of soldering robot.
- Users can set soldering points, configure parameters, and execute preloaded soldering programs through the interface.
- A camera mounted on the soldering head provides a live video stream during the soldering process for real-time monitoring and precision control.

Soldering Capabilities

The machine supports multiple soldering techniques, including point soldering and drag soldering.
It allows the configuration of up to 10 different soldering conditions to adapt to various applications.
With the capability to store and manage over 1000 soldering programs, the robot ensures flexibility in high-volume production.

Product Specifications

Voltage :200-230VAC
Power Consumption : 300W
Operating Mode: Manual (Position, Speed, Coordinates, Control Commands), Auto (Program mode)
Max Programs :1000+
Bed Size (Scope of work) : X-300mm Y-300mm Z-120mm R-axis 180 degree (Manual)
Max Speed : X,Y Axis :500mm/s Z-axis: 300mm/s
Repeat Accuracy: X,Y,Z Axis - +-0.02mm
Drive way: 2 phase stepper motor driving (X,Y Belt Driven, Z Ball screw driven)
Weight : About 60kg
Position Teaching: Remote teaching (JOG)/ Numeric entry, Navigation buttons (MDI)
Teaching style:
- Direct teaching by joystick
- Offline teaching by LCD
Soldering Station: Weller 120W
External Interface: 2x USB2.0
5MP Camera
Tip Clean - Air Pressure