In the face of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, diverse types of PCB inks, which are used for copper trace insulation to prevent oxidation, are produced to fulfill the numerous needs of electronics product assembly. An extensive range of PCB ink products and recipes, varying in types, volume, and quantity, generates a great number of product bundles, which considerably increases the complexity of packing and shipping.

When fulfilling a large number of highly-mixed purchase orders, PCB ink manufacturers cannot effectively prevent packing mistakes, such as missing or wrong products. These problems are often found only when clients receive their orders, which can lead to continuing complaints. Furthermore, the packing of heavy PCB ink cans is usually conducted by workers onsite, which may harm the workers’ health and could affect productivity in the long run.

Precise 3D Image Inspection with Detailed Product Traceability

To solve these pain points, Delta and its channel partner ACE Pillar have launched an integrated machine vision plus robotic arm solution to help PCB ink manufacturers upgrade the packing process with smart equipment.

General 2D visual inspection only functions on a predefined plane (defined by the X and Y-axis), but cannot find the depth (Z-axis) data of PCB ink cans, which may cause errors in automated packing. In order to enhance inspection and recognition accuracy, ACE Pillar implements Delta’s 3D ToF Smart Camera DMV-T and the Machine Vision Platform DIAVision for manufacturers to collect depth data via time-of-flight (ToF) technology, conduct real-time image calibration, recognize packing box shape, measure the surface area and the height of PCB ink cans, and detect can numbers and positions. The solution successfully solves the problem of picking mistakes and ensures traceability of order packing and shipment. Additionally, by deploying robotic arms in the warehouse, manufacturers successfully achieve automated packing, which significantly reduces the chances of occupational injuries caused by heavy lifting for the workers, while enhancing efficiency and productivity at the same time. The solution testifies to the importance of automation in manufacturing.

The machine vision solution that integrates the 3D ToF Smart Camera DMV-T and the Machine Vision Platform DIAVision features high flexibility for customization with its abundant built-in vision functions to save users from complex programming, including 2D/3D measurement, positioning, recognition 2D VGR, and 3D hand-eye calibration, suitable for robotic arms and applications of different industries. Through in-depth discussion, Delta and ACE Pillar listen to the voice of the customer and provide full service from automated production line planning, product verification, vision function teaching and final configuration. Delta and ACE Pillar are dedicated to helping clients establish traceability, enhance production quality, and boost client satisfaction.

Click here to discover more about the solution: https://www.acepillar.com/blog/detail/6oP75kw0