Stencil printers, what to buy?

[SMTech]

Have you considered the frameless option from Neoden (I got one few months ago, but have not had chance to use it cause of lockdown .., build looks solid):

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000124287041.html

You know that certainly LOOKs perfectly OK, I think by preference I would want both the holes in that one and a magnetic plate for flexibilty/modding. Interesting that @GerardG pointed to the SD360 when he is the EU distributor for this..

[Simon]

Have you considered the frameless option from Neoden (I got one few months ago, but have not had chance to use it cause of lockdown .., build looks solid):

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000124287041.html

Hm, looks like the SD-240 in function. Almost $900 to deliver to the US and they won't deliver to the UK. I may as well but the SD-240 for that.

[Simon]

After buying their reflow oven, I will not trust anything that CIF sells. I have a big doubt they have any clue about what they are doing.

Yes the video spends more time circling their lab that demonstrating the product and is rather childish. Again the oven is overpriced and RS sell it for even more.

[SMTech]

I think they won't ship to the UK because they don't want to upset their European distribution https://www.neodentech.eu/contents/en-uk/d14_SP2636-Stencil-Printer-for-frameless-stencils.html or possibly the UK one (who I think basically acts as an agent for the EU bit, at least the previous one did) http://www.ams-electronics.co.uk/ (no product page ).

[Simon]

The Uk reseller has not even got it on their site but the european one wants 850 EUR so getting closer to an SD-240

[cgroen]

I just took delivery of a SD-360U (from printtec.nl). Super fast service, extremely well packed and a very nice piece of equipment!
I know it is not exactly cheap, and you could probably build something yourself for a lot less. For me that's not an option. I don't have the time, the tools (and probably also not the skills) to do it. And, I'd rather spend my time designing electronics and software (I also don't repair my own cars )

Anyway, the printer looks and feels very nice, its easy to mount the stencil/PCB and do the alignment.
(I have yet to use it for real, but it looks like that will be no problem at all)

[Simon]

Well I ordered an SD240 (SP912 M1), it looks ok but I have virtually no movement on the X axis, the knobs only do 1/3 of a turn, can't even move it a pitch of 0.65mm.

[cgroen]

Well I ordered an SD240 (SP912 M1), it looks ok but I have virtually no movement on the X axis, the knobs only do 1/3 of a turn, can't even move it a pitch of 0.65mm.

Thats strange. My SD-360 has many mm's of movement on all 3 axis ?!

[Simon]

Yea I'd say this one is damaged.

[Simon]

Well I finally have my working printer. I can't say I am impressed with the nearly accurately named Blundell - take two "l's" off and put and "r" on. I went through a UK distributor for added security on such an expensive purchase and why not help the local economy too despite the possibility of purchasing direct from Europe for £100 less.

So I had to chase for the quote and then got quoted the wrong one but got that straight. I tried knocking them down but they just offered the £17 postage for free which I accepted. So I ordered and it turned up one week later as like all British businesses they don't stock it, they order it from Spide' and send it on.

As noted above it did not work on arrival and had damage. I re-examined the box having gotten caught up in the crossfire of Blundell and Spide arguing about who's fault it was and given the damage to the box that was not obvious but clearly showed what hit where and where the corner took a bashing. So they agreed to take it back "for repair" which I objected to as I wanted it replacing and I did not want a bodge job. They said that spide was going to send a new one and that I needed to return it to them as they needed to sort out the damage at their cost which I did not care to hear the detail of it kinda felt like they were bitter but not my flipping problem.

We did discuss packaging as they used the small bubblewrap which is hopeless for something the size of an A4 sheet of paper weighing 7kg. I suggested the bigger bubble stuff which apparently they struggle te find despite me finding it in 5 seconds flat.....

so 15 days later I finally have my SD-240 quadrupal shipped...... i had to pay the return shipping but as they made it sound like they had been done an injustire when it was their own fault and I got free shipping i did not bother to quible.

I am still amazed at the fantastic price these things go for for what they are. I mean for less i purchase, a thermal imaging camera, well speced PC, 1kW bench power supply, IR oven, fume extractor, i mean all of these things are relatively complex yet 2 pieces of acetal a hinged frame and some mechanism cost that much.

Not impressed. I think I'll show it to the machinist at work tomorrow.

[MR]

Exactly if you go to a machinist they can do it cheaper for sure (I think I told you before).

But if you need the items quick they will be there and do the job for sure.
You could also get a mill for 2k and do everything yourself, and even the mills you can get for that price usually come from China.

Just check for a reflow oven which will work out of the box ... prices are insane. Alternatively the chinese are selling small reflow ovens cheaply and they need to be modified (eg. new sensors, new firmware, possibly some isolation).
Our semi-automatic stencil printer is getting more and more expensive every year. Back then we bought it for 2000 EUR, now that manufacturer is selling it for almost 7000 EUR (but it really works and that's ok, you'll dump it in your lab and just use it; In case something's wrong with the printing just re-adjust the pressure or angle of the squeegee).

The only really black sheep on the list is Mechatronika for us even though located in Europe actively lying and betraying customers (the spec of their machines is made up of air but not technical facts); I wonder how much longer they'll get away with that.

[Styno]

I just took delivery of a SD-360U (from printtec.nl). Super fast service, extremely well packed and a very nice piece of equipment!
I know it is not exactly cheap, and you could probably build something yourself for a lot less. For me that's not an option. I don't have the time, the tools (and probably also not the skills) to do it. And, I'd rather spend my time designing electronics and software (I also don't repair my own cars )

Anyway, the printer looks and feels very nice, its easy to mount the stencil/PCB and do the alignment.
(I have yet to use it for real, but it looks like that will be no problem at all)

You probably have used this printer by now, care to share your experience?

Edit: I’ve found a user manual for this printer here.

[cgroen]

I just took delivery of a SD-360U (from printtec.nl). Super fast service, extremely well packed and a very nice piece of equipment!
I know it is not exactly cheap, and you could probably build something yourself for a lot less. For me that's not an option. I don't have the time, the tools (and probably also not the skills) to do it. And, I'd rather spend my time designing electronics and software (I also don't repair my own cars )

Anyway, the printer looks and feels very nice, its easy to mount the stencil/PCB and do the alignment.
(I have yet to use it for real, but it looks like that will be no problem at all)

You probably have used this printer by now, care to share your experience?

Yes, I have used, and I'm still very happy with it. Mechanically it works just fine, the only "downside" is that it is a bit heavy, that is however also positive as it is VERY sturdy and won't move around!

[peter-h]

I bought this one
https://www.olimex.com/Products/Tools/StencilPrinters/SD-240-Stencil-Printer/
and it is excellent.

Not cheap, like all the chinese ones but all of them need a framed stencil.

[Styno]

I bought this one
https://www.olimex.com/Products/Tools/StencilPrinters/SD-240-Stencil-Printer/
and it is excellent.

Not cheap, like all the chinese ones but all of them need a framed stencil.

Good to hear that you like it. When using JLCPCB make sure to use the 'Customized size' option for the stencil, because even the smallest default option is too large for this printer and even its larger brother SD-300.

[Siriusx86]

Well, I use over 10 years PBT UniPRINT-PM for prototype and sample production. My configuration is with magnetic table and  screw tensioning frame.
The best feature is self-centering function. You appreciate it during repetitive production of complex PCB.  Thanks to this clever design the only limits of accuracy is your first setup and pcb manufacturing tolerances. On  the picture are passive components 0201. But there is always a but and it is price.

I also want foil stencil instead frame stencil, it's more convenient to store foil stencils. But frame stencils are definitely better and easier to handle for employees.

One more tip for any manual stencil printer. For best result wipe bottom side of stencil let's say every 5 printed boards during production.