SMD tape trays

[mikeselectricstuff]

Neat idea :
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/femtocow/manual-smd-soldering-trays

[Mr.B]

Very nice idea.
Backed...

[Kjelt]

Nice idea! I don't like the 3D print process though esp. when he states that the end results are not stable and he gets different quality is a bad sign.
This stage should be kept for the prototyping IMO. He should have gone for more money and go to pro-molds and a mass production process, expensive yes once then the fun begins and he can sell them all over the world. Oh well if this is a success probably in half a year ebay is full of china copies anyway, maybe he knows that already.

[Monkeh]

Already been posted back here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/manual-smd-soldering-trays/

It is quite neat, but proper production would be much better.

[mikeselectricstuff]

The print quality is a potential issue - could probably be done much nicer with a -part injection mould, but tooling probably too much to afford for a niche item.
I wonder if machining from sheet material could be an option.
 

[zapta]

I have this scad design of similar feeders. Here is a link to an interactive 3d viewer

https://github.com/zapta/misc/blob/master/prototyping/smd_feeders/smd_feader_5x8mm.stl

I plan to post it on thingieverse as a parametric design (number of slots, dimensions, etc). Shapeways charged me $8 for this 5 x 8mm part which I think is very reasonable. They have fancy printers that don't have no problem with the slot, hangout, etc. I also printed in with my cheapo reprap but had to print it in three separate pieces and glue (base tunnel, cover and U shape tape peeler) but it was just as functional. It works very well. I glued it to this heavy base so it doesn't move when I peel the tape.

http://amzn.com/B006H2GRFC

[rx8pilot]

I made these from heavy blocks of aluminum. The heavy weight is very nice to have when pulling to advance the tapes - they stay put. Laser marked on top with lane ID. The machined surfaces make the tapes glide nice a smooth and they can be paper and plastic tapes. I made 8, 12,16, 24mm versions at various widths.

3D printing for production is terrible IMHO.

[Psi]

i'm thinking, have 10 or so entire reels mounted in your work-bench shelving (eg, like test equipment).
And have the tape unroll onto the desk and into these holders which can also be labeled with the value.

Should make a nice system.

I bought the 3 set pack.

It would be better if they were modular though, so you can join them together in any combination by tongue-n-groove or similar connection.

[zapta]

Just posted the parameterized 3D design here

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:675336

Here is the 5 x 8mm feeders I am using, attached to a heavy metal base.

[Kjelt]

I made these from heavy blocks of aluminum. The heavy weight is very nice to have when pulling to advance the tapes

Those look great! Do you have a design or more info somewhere to share.
Or perhaps even the DXF files maybe to share? 

[bapou]

@rx8pilot
I like you milled aluminium design very much. In your design,  is the cover film also separated and folded back as in the printed designs shown by zapta here and in the kickstarter and (the acrylic part is difficult to see) or is this anyhow no big advantage?
In case you still have closeup photos or a CAD file, this would be great as I will try to mill some of these holders for my bench.
Thanks,
Thom

[rx8pilot]

I have the files in Solid Works, can you read STEP 3D files? The Acrylic panels were cut with our laser and the those are DXF.

[bapou]

thanks rx8pilot,
STEP or IGES would both work.
thom

[free_electron]

the one on kickstarter is cool.

i got like 5 idea's for improvement in 2 minutes :

sketches attched

[bapou]

I have the files in Solid Works, can you read STEP 3D files? The Acrylic panels were cut with our laser and the those are DXF.

In case you find time, it would be really helpful to get your files as your design looks very nice.
Thanks, Thom

[JuKu]

@free_electron:
These look great. For your second picture, does the fact that smd tape widths are in 4mm increments which also happens to be Lego pitch, raise any ideas? :-)

[rx8pilot]

Here are the SolidWorks Files.....

https://solidcamera.box.com/s/bcvzrm3ck85d3mj9cwkywuh6jm4gizh9
https://solidcamera.box.com/s/ksmoo3dbbvinsk4s1586jhh9igx1zjwz
https://solidcamera.box.com/s/vwpitd0xe8r77cmjkl38gr1bjvp5qit7

I will try to get the laser cut covers as well, but they are derived from these models. You can have a cover tape slot or not on them. I chose not to because they covered the slot labels.

[free_electron]

@free_electron:
These look great. For your second picture, does the fact that smd tape widths are in 4mm increments which also happens to be Lego pitch, raise any ideas? :-)

lego pick and place ?

[bapou]

Thanks rx8pilot,
this is really helpful.

[JuKu]

@free_electron:
These look great. For your second picture, does the fact that smd tape widths are in 4mm increments which also happens to be Lego pitch, raise any ideas? :-)

lego pick and place ?

Modular base plate.

[carloscuev]

This trays have been on ebay/aliexpress for years, they are about $25, I just bought 10 of them, they are great. The magic search term is "5 way smt feeder"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291176058615

[bapou]

I now built the trays for which rx8pilot kindly provided the 3D files and they work very nicely.
This approach really saves time in my manual pick and place routine compared to my previous approach
where I taped everything on a wooden board.

I used two acrylic pieces on top; one to cover the trays and another one with 0.5mm distance bring the cover tape back. This way one can also advance the the tape by pulling the cover tape but one can still see the labels. Thanks again to rx8pilot!

[rx8pilot]

Awesome....do you do that on a manual machine?

[bapou]

No, some years ago I converted a BF20 (a bit similar to a Sieg X3 from the US) to CNC.

[maj]

Thanks for supplying the design files rx8pilot, much appreciated