I think if a software solution could be created to fix the current issues for 10K then it probably would not be too hard to get the current and future owners to chip in to get it created.
I think if a software solution could be created to fix the current issues for 10K then it probably would not be too hard to get the current and future owners to chip in to get it created.
Conveyer support is on the list but pretty far down, since few people (in the area OpenPnP usually serves) need it.
Conveyer support is on the list but pretty far down, since few people (in the area OpenPnP usually serves) need it.True, but the ability to reload a long panel manually ( with fids on each section) would be a useful facility, and probably not hard to do.
Full disclosure: I am the author of OpenPnP.
If ya'll are serious about retrofitting a Neoden 4 with new software, please check out OpenPnP. OpenPnP is a working, Open Source pick and place platform that can be used for nearly any machine.
I don't know of anyone who has done a Neoden 4 retro fit with it yet, but others have done TM-240 (older Neoden machine) retros. We also recently have a Zevatech retrofit and there are numerous examples of people DIYing their own machines with OpenPnP.
Now, OpenPnP doesn't have all the features that the N4 software currently has - the biggest two being bottom vision and conveyer support. Bottom vision is my current focus and will be the next major feature release. Conveyer support is on the list but pretty far down, since few people (in the area OpenPnP usually serves) need it.
Anyway, I thought I'd mention it because there's really no need to develop a new solution from scratch. OpenPnP has a completely modular model for machines and it can be adapted to run nearly anything. I personally think the N4 is a great candidate for a retro fit. It's an incredible hardware platform but it really needs better software to make it shine.
So, if anyone would like to talk about doing a retrofit of this machine with OpenPnP, please come check us out! We have an active mailing list and IRC channel which you can find at http://openpnp.org/. I will personally devote time and resources to helping make it happen.
Conveyer support is on the list but pretty far down, since few people (in the area OpenPnP usually serves) need it.True, but the ability to reload a long panel manually ( with fids on each section) would be a useful facility, and probably not hard to do.
Not quite sure what you are getting at.
Conveyer support is on the list but pretty far down, since few people (in the area OpenPnP usually serves) need it.True, but the ability to reload a long panel manually ( with fids on each section) would be a useful facility, and probably not hard to do.
Not quite sure what you are getting at.Obviously any P&P, subject to mechanical constraints can potentially do a bigger PCB than its placement area by treating it as two or more seperate jobs, but this would mean splitting the job into two (or more), and reloading the job files for each panel, which would be a pain.
What would be good is if you could generate a single pick/place file to cover the whole PCB, which would include additional fids for each section. The machine would use the global placement positions and fid positions to work out which parts go in which section.
The machine would then place each section, and then prompt the user to reload the PCB for the next section. Or if there is a conveyor, send the 'move conveyor by <section length>' command.
Ah! I see what you mean now. Yes, that is an interesting idea and a use case I have not come across before. I think we could currently facilitate that with careful job preparation but it would be entirely manual. Having that be something that software would figure out for you and prompt for movement is a really neat idea.
Jason
Conveyer support is on the list but pretty far down, since few people (in the area OpenPnP usually serves) need it.True, but the ability to reload a long panel manually ( with fids on each section) would be a useful facility, and probably not hard to do.
Not quite sure what you are getting at.Obviously any P&P, subject to mechanical constraints can potentially do a bigger PCB than its placement area by treating it as two or more seperate jobs, but this would mean splitting the job into two (or more), and reloading the job files for each panel, which would be a pain.
What would be good is if you could generate a single pick/place file to cover the whole PCB, which would include additional fids for each section. The machine would use the global placement positions and fid positions to work out which parts go in which section.
The machine would then place each section, and then prompt the user to reload the PCB for the next section. Or if there is a conveyor, send the 'move conveyor by <section length>' command.
Ah! I see what you mean now. Yes, that is an interesting idea and a use case I have not come across before. I think we could currently facilitate that with careful job preparation but it would be entirely manual. Having that be something that software would figure out for you and prompt for movement is a really neat idea.
Jason
The Neodon4 hardware is all controlled via a single serial port from the PC. Sounds like it is time to start sniffing.
The Neodon4 hardware is all controlled via a single serial port from the PC. Sounds like it is time to start sniffing.What about the cameras?
The Neodon4 hardware is all controlled via a single serial port from the PC. Sounds like it is time to start sniffing.
BTW, to the OpenPNP guy... do you offer commercial support at all?
Perhaps there is a bit of an income stream for your project from us frustrated N4 owners so far.
Andrew
Board 1 of 2 is done and 2 of 2 is in progress right now.