Short answers for Model A owners. Anything missing? Email info@smtcaddy.com.
SMT Caddy Model A
Who is the Model A for?
Anyone who builds surface-mount boards often: small businesses needing custom assemblies, R&D groups iterating through board revisions, job shops doing prototype and short-run work, and hobbyists who build frequently. Turning a prototype around in-house the same day is often worth more than the assembly cost saved.
How accurately must parts be placed?
Less accurately than you might think, provided they sit on their pads. During reflow, surface tension pulls molten solder to the pad center and pulls the part's terminations over it, which corrects small placement errors. A part placed off its pads, or bridging two pads, won't self-correct.
How do I judge height on a video microscope?
You can't; a camera image has no depth. The Model A's laser marks the landing point, so line up in X and Y with the dot, then finish on the microscope image. Setup notes are on the Model A page.
Does the MTI fit the SMT Caddy Model A?
No. The Model A uses its own motorized feeder modules, and its feeder banks don't accept the MTI.
More Model A answers (feeder count, tape length, reels, lubrication, handedness, styli, placement rate) are in the operation notes. Spare parts not listed under Spare parts are quoted on request.
Shipping, invoices and purchase orders: Ordering, shipping and POs. Stencil, paste and reflow tips: Support.