Technical White Papers Section Added
Software Improvements

    Under our TOOLS AND RESOURCES tab, we now have additional resources which will consist of various links to industry web sites and various white papers we have issued. For the moment, the two papers we have incorporated into the site cover

1) Return-on-investment issues (ROI determination for a given project) and
2) Process control through height measurement and needle tip calibration.

We are planning several additional articles, and as they are added, we will mention them in our newsletters.

Other New Software Improvements:

• Links page added
• Gasket height and compression set tool

Dual Y Axis Configuration To Boost Productivity
Hardware Improvements

    Although our first dual Y axis machine was sold in 1998, the recent economy has helped to increase the urgency for greater productivity gains with manageable cost structures! And so we have decided to put together an illustrative demonstration of the advantages of a dual Y system.

With a typical batch mode system, all operations are serial in nature: the operator loads a part, the operator presses run, the machine does its function and stops, the operator unloads the part and the cycle starts over again. The load and unload sequence is something that we conservatively estimate at a 10 second time cost. As the cycle time drops below about 1.5 minutes, the consequence of this 10 second layover becomes more significant. If you have a 10 second cycle time and a 10 second change over time, fully half of your plant productivity is given to getting parts on and off of the machine!

At a certain point (also around the 10 second mark) it gets to be more difficult for a line operator to keep up with the machine and then something with automated material handling, such as our ICP line, should be considered. Some parts are simply too awkward to be able to load and unload quickly and safely.

One of the interesting elements of New Precision Technology's take on this type of configuration is our "queued" over-ride. The operator loads the parts and as soon as they are loaded, they can press the RUN button and the machine will begin a new cycle right after it finishes the current cycle.

NOTE! With these systems relying so heavily on operator loading consistency, some consideration should be given to validating the part load by way of sensing. Often, New Precision Technology will employ vacuum sensing, prox sensing, ultrasonic sensing, or tactile sensing where appropriate. A very effective example of vacuum sensing can be seen in the hot melt video found through the supplied link. In this example, the presence of a plastic sheet is sensed both when applied and when removed. In this double test method we can actually use the vacuum sense as a run cycle signal, allowing for a seven second cycle time!

Other New Hardware Improvements:

• New Height Measurement Probe Improves Speed and Accuracy

Retooling
Retool and Repair

    This category of production equipment is extremely versatile. We have converted soldering systems to gasket dispense systems, coating systems to polishing systems, and everything in between. Why? Because the only constant is change. Most product production runs come to an end and rather than letting the machine collect dust, many customers opt to send us in the equipment for reconfiguration. This is a cost effective alternative. In the fourteen years we have been producing the CP product line, several units have actually been re-manufactured more than once.
Sometimes companies will develop excess capacity and in those cases we will bring in machines on consignment. This gives a prospective customer a chance to purchase a state of the art, re-manufactured system and save roughly 25% off of the cost of a new machine. Re-manufactured machines are typically offered with a one year warranty.

Other New Retool and Repair:

• Inspections and Rebuilds
• Resell