Solutions
RapiTrim
Optional Features and Hardware
RapiTrim Optional Features
PPI Systems offers a full selection of hardware and software options to ensure each RapiTrim solution meets your application needs.
Manual Loading
All RapiTrim systems can handle individual substrates up to 300×300 mm and can provide unique vacuum platen configurations as well as multi-up fixtures that cover a range of part sizes. Vacuum platen top fixture plates can be exchanged in seconds, minimizing unproductive overhead. With two fixtures, unloading and reloading of one fixture can occur while the second is being processed. This scheme provides high efficiency with much lower cost than full automation. Many different part sizes can be accommodated in this way.
Stack Loaders
Automatic part stack loading systems load and unload substrates with sizes up to 200×200 mm using a vacuum pickup. Cup locations are adjustable to accommodate small to maximum size substrates. Slipsheet handling is also available.
Systems contain two pickup heads, one for loading and one for unloading substrates. These substrate stacks (load and unload) are located at the front of the machine for easy access and exchange.
Magazine Loaders
For substrates handled in magazines, PPI offers SMEMA-compatible solutions allowing function with a range of magazine automation suppliers. These handlers may be specified by the customer and PPI can supply them as part of a turnkey system. Substrates may be exchanged quickly, and with the right choice of magazine handler the option of multiple magazines allows hours of efficient, uninterrupted operation. Loading is provided by a short conveyor which is followed by a robot pick-and-place onto a vacuum platen or special fixture for trimming.
The magazine loading system including external magazine-to-conveyor loaders and unloaders are fully integrated (mechanically, electrically and software integration) by PPI into the operation of the RapiTrim laser resistor trimming system. All controls are then available through the one advanced ProSys user interface. Single sided automation is also available.
In-line Automation
An in-line conveyorized substrate transport is another available configuration. This would use the same SMEMA-compatible hardware as the magazine loader, just without the magazine loading / unloading modules. Substrates are passed to the RapiTrim directly on the conveyor track and picked-and-placed by the robot onto the vacuum chuck (or another fixture if necessary). As with the magazine loader configuration, full line integration is achieved by following SMEMA standards, and the transport controls are fully integrated into the RapiTrim user interface.
Custom Solutions
If your requirements are not covered by one of the options above, don’t hesitate to contact PPI to discuss custom alternatives. PPI engineers can propose solutions for your unique needs, from custom fixturing to custom automation.
PPI Systems is a leading supplier of laser material processing and test systems. The company provides a broad range of turn-key solutions to the interconnect and electronic component market for via drilling, circuit processing, resistor trimming, and high-precision micro-machining.
External Instrument Support
The trim controller can interface to external instrumentation for passive and active trim operations using standard LAN (LXI) interface. Such instrumentation can be digital multimeters, source-measure units, signal generators, power supplies or external loads.
Probe Tip Change
Anytime a change in probe tips is required, the current set (one or all) can be unloaded into an empty holder and fresh tips loaded from an adjacent holder. Probes are automatically calibrated and trimming can resume, all without operator handling.
Process Sequence Customization
The trim process operation can be customized using a sequence of defined sub-tasks. This allows the processing of DUT components to be tailored to the specific application. Supported sub-task operations include conditional processing, looping, control of voltage and current sources and measurement instruments (both internal and external), among others.