Fritsch semi-automatic manipulator SM902

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

Hi
Has anybody got any experience with this machine or something similar.
https://www.fritsch-smt.de/en/manual-pick-place/sm902pro/

https://www.fritsch-smt.de/en/smprofessional-en/


Looks like fun.
For doing small runs, and for students to play and learn.

I work at a Uni and we have some money for something like this.
I would be interested if somebody can give me some feedback.

[JPlocher]

At what price point?   Alibaba bins it in the $euro 25k+ to 50k range, at which point the question is "why not a full auto PNP system?"

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

It was mentioned that I might be able to get a second hand one for 5k. (no currency specified)

We wanted to move up from tweezers, but to something actual useful for small runs and prototypes.
Low maintenance, easy to learn, something a student doing 20 boards would actually use.

If it gave a slight productivity improvement to a first timer (on SMD) it would be worth something to us.
Whether it is worth 25k to us is another matter, I was hoping for less.

A small PNP might be an option but I have never used one. I will look into open placer.

Thanks for comments
The main goal is to improve our protoyping, small runs capability, get students closer to a manufacturing environment, have something to wow visitors would be good too so it might be worth going to a fully automatic system.
Easy setup, low maintenance and hackability are all positives too.
Do I ask too much?
Probably could go to US25k if it was the best option.

[TJ232]

As soon CHMT36VA will natively run OpenPNP I think it can be a very nice learning platform for students from both sides: operational and also related software development as OpenPNP is a very flexible Open Source project. And at less than 3.5K EUR at the door, it's a hard to beat price.

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

I like the idea of something OpenPNP capable.

The TVM925 also seems possible. apparently OpenPNP is close there too.

[TJ232]

CHMT36VA will be for sure as Jason von Nieda, the founder of the OpenPnP project, has already announced that he is fully committed to port OpenPNP to the CHMT36VA PNP machine.

See also this post for more details about: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/openpnp-chmt36va-becomes-reality!!/
 

[mairo]

Hi HackedFridgeMagnet,

Fritsch is probably the best manual/semi-auto PnP out there, but also most expensive, I think full blown out version of it, including BGA placement will set you around US$35k?

These manual PnP machines are extremely useful in prototype builds and small volume production (less than 2k components in total per day , and you still need abit of setup for such production), no problems with doggy feeders, unproper camera lightning, software bugs .. just go read every second post in the Chinese PnP machines treads

Mechatronika MM600 is one of the best low cost options (~US$3k - I had one shipped to Australia including feeders for AU$6k 7-8 years ago, and still going very strong), very solid machine, altho it lacks BGA option.

If you ask me however, you better spend the money on something like this:
http://esdshop.eu/shop/?page=vyrobok&psk=34&rozbal=23&id=260&lang=en

and have left money for other useful equipment at your uni.