One feature and major advantage of advanced manufacturing, is that high throughput and high levels of quality don’t become mutually exclusive. Flexible, automated processes bring both precision and speed.
Automated Assembly
The point about scalability and precision is emphasised by the automated assembly process used in high-volume, high-precision electronics. The multi-line SMT Hybrid Modular Mounter we use at Trizo can place up to 45,000 components per hour with incredible precision, and to much finer tolerances than the most skilled human hand could hope to achieve.
Scalable Soldering Technology
A modern manufacturer of electronic assemblies would normally have a variety of soldering methods at their disposal to suit product constraints and batch size. Trizo is no different, offering wave, reflow and selective soldering.
Our selective soldering technology illustrates the point about throughput and precision perfectly. Trizo has a range of ERSA selective solder modules to deliver the optimum combination of flexibility and throughput. Dual pot selective soldering means we can use different alloys simultaneously without time-consuming retooling. Or, we can simply double the throughput when using a single alloy.
Meanwhile, precision fluxing and a highly controllable solder wave height get as close to zero defect soldering as is currently possible.
We also have the capability to produce very small batches and rapid prototyping.
Design For Manufacturing
Technology is only part of the answer. There’s still a vital role for skill and experience. This is where Designing for Manufacturing (DfM) comes in. Computerised design tools in the hands of experienced engineers can configure board and component layouts that are easy to assemble and solder to maximise throughput and quality.
Inspection
There’s little point in high-throughput manufacturing if inspection and testing can’t keep up. You don’t want these vital steps in the quality assurance process to become the limiting factor in production. Here again, technologies like automated testing and high-definition X-ray inspection deliver speed and accuracy that couldn’t have been possible even a few years ago.
There’s much more to the story than we can cover here. Hopefully this offers a glimpse into how modern manufacturing delivers scalable production while meeting the needs of high-reliability markets and conforming with AS9100 standards.
If you’re interested in learning more about modern electronics manufacturing for high reliability markets, access our free resource centre to find out more.
