Emerging opportunities in high-tech markets are driving a transformation in equipment features and value

The smart revolution, driving more and more intelligent “things” into homes, vehicles, factories, cities, and many other aspects of life, is presenting attractive opportunities for high-tech innovators. Companies capable of conceptualising and delivering suitable products can thrive, if they can deliver at the right price. To build the hardware at the heart of these smart devices, the manufacturers need surface-mount assembly equipment that delivers premium productivity at a lower cost.

Meeting Emerging Demands
To respond, equipment suppliers need to design imaginatively. An effective approach is to draw on innovations proven in high-end platforms, reinvented in a new and more affordable form, combining these with refinements to existing features and new software-based capabilities. Yamaha created the YRP10e screen printer this way, achieving core cycle time close to some of today’s fastest equipment as well as introducing inventive new features that save time and enhance productivity.

The YRP chassis used for all the latest-generation equipment is cost-effectively re-used to prevent vibrations or deflections due to movement of the printing mechanisms. Building on this, the YRP10e introduces a three-stage conveyor (figure 1) that permits efficient loading and removal of boards from the print process. With this, the core cycle time of the entry-level machine is only 6 seconds; comparable to some of today’s fastest printers positioned for high-volume applications.