A thorough testing regime and novel kit-form approach to the supply of
cable carrier systems, helps PCB screen printer, DEK, meet its
reliability and production efficiency targets
DEK is a company whose name is synonymous with PCB screen printers. These
machines are called upon to work virtually continuously at great speed
and to extremely high levels of accuracy - all of which places
considerable demands on the management and containment of moving cable
harnesses. DEK had been experiencing problems with a cable and drag chain
assembly when it sought advice from the Nottingham based flexible cable
handling specialist, Kabelschlepp Metool.
A matched combination of high-specification cable and 'Uniflex' cable
carriers was developed and tested over 18 months at Kabelschlepp's
laboratories at Siegen in Germany, to determine the long term effects on
cable conductivity and carrier deflection. Operating at a speed of 1.5m/s
with acceleration peaking at 4m/s/s, the assembly showed negligible signs
of wear after ten million cycles. Uniflex is a fibreglass reinforced
polymer cable carrier, available in five standard sizes, with either
inner or outer opening links. The strong double stoppage system is
suitable for long, unsupported applications and is very resistant to
twisting. Integral strain relief on the end connectors and a flexible
divider arrangement provide optimum conditions for both cable and hose
carrying duties.
DEK duly approved the configuration and also accepted Kabelschlepp's
suggestion that it should supply fully assembled looms (comprising 86
individual parts) as a single kit, complete with connectors. The proposal
coincided with DEK's plans for a major streamlining of production at its
Weymouth plant, and contributed to a reduction in machine build time from
22 days to just five and a half. There are five Uniflex carriers on a
typical DEK machine, controlling the movement of the camera (X and Y),
the table (Z), the substrate dispenser and the under-screen cleaner.