At 12:37 PM 2/13/2015, Mike Harrison wrote: > >I'd like more than 28 feeders because I do so much analog work. That > >means that I use lots of odd-value resistors (E24 & E96 series) as > >well as lots of capacitor values. > > > >Generally speaking, 28 feeders has been enough to do one board. But > >it takes too much time to change reels on the machine. A machine > >that had double or triple the number of feeders would suit me nicely. > >Interchangeable banks of feeders would be the ideal answer to this -=20 >people can buy as many as they >need, and even if you had to swap a bank part way through a job thay=20 >may not be a big problem. >For the occasional oddball value, picking from a tray of fixed=20 >strips would also be viable. The problem with my machine is that the feed system is an integral=20 part of the machine. I'll dig up links to photos to make it clear=20 what they are doing. Don't get me wrong: I very much like the way this machine was=20 designed and I'm thrilled with the build quality. The software isn't=20 the easiest to use and I should take a month and develop my own - but=20 I can't spare that month. But this machine was by far the best bang=20 for the buck that I could find at that time. Video of my model of machine in operation=20 &=20 The white pulleys on the left side of the machine are used for taking=20 up the clear film that keeps the components in the tapes. They have=20 each have a slip clutch so that they slip as needed when the shaft=20 turns. This pulls the cover off of the tape as the tape is fed forward. You will see the head move twice near the left side of the machine=20 when it goes to pick up a part. The first move is to advance the=20 tape: the head moves such that a pin driven downwards by a solenoid=20 is lined up with a sprocket hole on the tape. The solenoid then=20 activates, upon which the head moves towards the right to pull the=20 tape forward by one component's width. The take-up spools are=20 activated at the same time so as to pull the cover off the tape. Anyway, you will see that separating the feed system from the machine=20 is a fairly major undertaking. Also note that the board shown in the=20 video is primarily digital and just doesn't need many different components. dwayne --=20 Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .