Altus' Axis

August 07, 2019

Altus' Axis: Is Your Soldering System Smart Enough for the Future?

Time and time again, we read about the importance of changing processes to work with Industry 4.0, IoT, and smart manufacturing. We understand the significance of ensuring electronics manufacturing is automated by improving communication, monitoring, and analysis so that processes are and optimized and truly productive. We all know how important having the correct systems in place is, but are we implementing the necessary processes required to future-proof our factories?

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June 20, 2019

Why Are Data Analytics so Important to R&D Within Inspection Businesses?

Any sales professional operating in the inspection space will tell you that the market is flooded with competition when it comes to SPI and AOI machines. Although I have no doubt their preferred solution will be the market leader, unless you are knowledgeable about the differences in provider and the array of technologies available today, you can soon fall into a trap of not selecting the correct platform for your application.

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April 11, 2019

What Makes the Smart Line So Smart?

The drive for increased automation and significantly escalating the productivity of an SMT line requires several critical factors coming together to create a truly smart line: innovative individual machines should maximize the potential performance for the respective processes; there must be interconnectivity between the machines; and the ability to automatically adjust to products coming down the line with minimized downtime.

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January 30, 2019

The Drive to Automate the Labor-intensive Task of Post-SMT Assembly

At the dawn of SMT components and creating automated electronic assemblies entirely from SMT parts, many predicted the downfall of THT (through-hole technology) in the assembly of future PCBAs. However, the vision has not become a reality. To this day, a variety of components are hand-placed, soldered, inspected, and packed by CEMs and OEMs alike across the globe.

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January 03, 2019

Smart Factories Are Smart With Their Components; Are You?

Have you ever been in a situation where your production has stopped because you do not have the correct component? How about a significant unknown shortage in your stockroom that cannot be explained by production or the store’s team? Maybe you have been in the difficult situation of trying to explain that the lead time of a product has increased to your end customer? Read on.

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November 20, 2018

Altus’ Axis: 2D or Not 2D—That is the Question

In this first “Altus’ Axis” column from Altus Group Ltd., Joe Booth—business development and marketing manager—discusses AOI system option and differences between 2D and 3D. Booth also addresses what to look for regarding AOI to achieve the three “Rs”—reliability, repeatability, and relatability—within the SMT industry.

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