Kurtz Ersa Automation
Inline Hyperspectral Inspection
Hyperspectral inspection (HSI) is increasingly being used to check electronic components. SCHILLER AUTOMATION has developed an inline station for a customer that checks components for adhesions after the cleaning system.
Hyperspectral imaging captures information about the electromagnetic spectrum in a broad wavelength range. In this way, defects, contaminants, or other anomalies in the components can be identified that may be overlooked by conventional visual inspection techniques. The resulting data sets can be used to identify material differences and assess the chemical composition of materials. Any impurities present are reliably detected. This allows for more precise quality control and early detection of potential problems, which ultimately improves product quality and reduces downtime.
SCHILLER AUTOMATION has developed an inline HSI station with an integrated conveyor belt to achieve this quality objective in production lines with high throughput. The system accepts workpiece carriers with the components inside via a SMEMA interface (belt-to-belt transfer) and positioning in the pre-position. Here, the Data Matrix Code (DMC) of the workpiece carrier is recorded and its contents temporarily stored. An X/Y/Z handling system takes over the workpiece carrier and positions it under the camera. The camera is automatically triggered after positioning, the workpiece carrier is moved and placed back on the belt after the pick-up has been completed.
Traceability and parallel data evaluation
The hyperspectral camera takes line-by-line images with different spectral channels between 400 and 1,000 nm wavelength. In addition, the control system, in conjunction with the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) and a big data storage system, ensures traceability and enables the data to be evaluated in parallel. In the first application, chips are checked after passing through a cleaning system to validate the success of the cleaning process. The very early detection in the production process avoids high follow-up costs. In the meantime, several follow-up orders have been placed as the concept has proven itself in practice.
Kurtz Ersa Links
Further information can be found at:
https://www.schiller-automation.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbiYWS-w8HteHCeBK_QzETA
Jochen Meinhof, Managing Director at SCHILLER AUTOMATION and responsible for sales and service, explains the HSI station: “One of SCHILLER AUTOMATION´s special achievement is the development of customized systems for a wide variety of process chains. This is mainly done in areas of technologically highly-demanding tasks. The convincing and process-reliable design often leads to our customers reordering them several times and using them in a wide variety of areas. This is also the case here, where very individual materials are processed on a workpiece carrier. Our thanks go first and foremost to our customers, who value this SCHILLER expertise and regularly challenge us with new tasks.”
Integration into almost any line production system
The design as an inline station allows the station to be integrated into almost any line production system. The product-specific evaluation of the generated data can be carried out either directly on the camera or offline. Customer-specific adaptations of the transport system or to other product dimensions are possible and are defined as part of the requirements analysis. SCHILLER AUTOMATION is able to individually plan and implement additional production equipment. Individually-planned and fully-interlinked production systems regularly leave the site in Sonnenbühl.