SMT Nuremberg: AX-201, AX-301 and OPAL FP-X^II

European premier of AX-201, AX-301 and Opal FP-X^II on Assembléon’s stand at Nuremberg

Veldhoven (The Netherlands), March 24, 2007

Latest additions to the A-Series Pick & Place machines from Assembléon enable electronics manufacturers to place a very wide range of components while the new Opal FP-X^II solution offers high value for both stand-alone and line applications.

During the SMT HYBRID PACKAGING 2007 exhibition at the Messezentrum in Nuremberg (Germany) from April 24 to 26, Assembléon will introduce the latest AX-301 and AX-201 Pick & Place solutions from the A-Series, plus the new competitively priced Opal FP-X^II from the X-Series for the first time in Europe.

Next generation A-Series

Two new A-Series machines are on the stand, the AX-201 and AX-301. They share a common user interface, feeder range, trays, trolleys and placement heads with the fast, award-winning AX-501, and can be seamlessly integrated into scalable lines to meet the full spectrum of functionalities required for today’s manufacturing needs. The recently launched AX-301 fits in the middle of the range, and offers up to 156 feeding positions using twin tape, and has 90,000 components per hour maximum placement rate. It handles components from 01005 (0.4 x 0.2 mm) up to 45 x 45 mm.

Unique combination in one machine

The new AX-201 offers a unique combination of high placement accuracy (20 micron at 3 sigma) and an extremely wide component range while also maintaining a fast placement rate. This makes it a highly versatile solution for either stand-alone applications (one machine does it all) or as a line balancer in a production line comprising the AX-301 or AX-501 machines, where it handles the odd form and large components. The AX-201 handles components from 01005 up to odd forms measuring 130 x 79 mm (LxW).

The A-Series machines have interchangeable robot heads that make it easy to scale production output in 7500 component-per-hour steps, without rebuilding, recalibrating or affecting either the machine, its footprint or line setup. Product changeover is simplified and made more flexible through off-line feeder setup, and off-line placement program creation and optimization. Reconfiguration takes place in just minutes.

Attractively priced Opal FP-X^II and Opal FP Line-X^II

Following in the footsteps of the Opal-X^II, which is a competitively priced version of the versatile Topaz-X^II, Assembléon has also launched the Opal FP-X^II to make fine-pitch and odd-form component handling available at a similar attractive price. As a no-frills machine based on the Emerald-X^II the Opal FP-X^II starts at just EUR 89,000 and can operate as a stand-alone solution or as part of a balanced line configuration. For electronics manufacturers looking for a line solution, the Opal FP Line-X^II configuration (an Opal-X^II plus an Opal FP-X^II) is also available for EUR 149,000.