I've seen some equipment like this in the RS catalog, and at the time I supposed that the system was like the serigraphic (uhmm... does this word translates this way?) method for making PCB's. It seems that the solder paste comes in different particle sizes for using by this method. Regards, S.- ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Crum To: Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 5:56 PM Subject: Re: [EE:] homemade CNC pick and place | I used to work for a small circuit board assembly shop that had a nice line | of pick-n-place machines | | When I first started they were using a manual solder paste screen dispencing | unit | It was basically a flat piece of metal the was unique to each PCB that had | the SMT pads milled out (probably lazer ethed) | | Then you place the pcb under the "screen". On the top was a big pile of | solder paste. Then you just "squeegee" the paste over it. Only one pass was | needed. | | The thickness of the metal screen determined how much past was on the pad. | | Unless you are doing REALLY fine pitched devices, I think you could make the | solder paste screen on a home-brew CNC MILL | | if you are doing a larger run of PCB's, that would decrease the time it took | to make the boards, instead of having the a CNC machine place each solder | paste pad | | They eventually purchased a nice machine that automated it (for LOTS of | $$$$) | but that should be just as easy to make. | | That's my two cents (for now) | g -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.