Vacuum Technology for the Electronics Industry

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

The active areas of the printed circuit board are highly sensitive, therefore the PCBs are handled at the outermost edge. As a result, Schmalz recommends the use of suction cups with a diameter of less than 15 millimeters from the PFYN, FSGA or FSG product families. The use of a spring plunger for height compensation from the FSTIm product family supports safe handling. In combination with a flat suction cup like the SGON, this results in a solution that masters even the most difficult requirements and load cases.

In the field of PCB manufacturing, environmental influences should not be underestimated. Schmalz offers a wide variety of materials in combination. The product portfolio includes suction cups made of low-impression HT1 material as well as NBR-ESD material for the safe discharge of generated charges.

Thanks to the individually adaptable solutions from Schmalz, handling and process steps can be made safer and rejects minimized.

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Due to the diversity and countless geometries of an assembled printed-circuit board, a PCB handling solution is required that compensates for the height differences of the components while also preventing damage due to mechanical stress. Thanks to its extremely high flow rate, the Schmalz flow gripper SCG is ideal for handling circuit boards and uneven components. The sealing lip adapts to the different geometries. The partially projecting solder tags used in the THT process create height differences that can be compensated by the floating suction cup SBS (based on the Bernoulli principle), thus enabling effective handling.

Vacuum technology is used not only in the assembly process itself, but also for the component supply station ("feeder") of the pick-and-place machines. Whether for the blister tape reels ("Tape&Reel") or the tray supply: Schmalz suction cups can be used to great effect in both areas. Schmalz also offers suitable products for larger components and for provision in plastic tubes.