OpenPNP and PandaPlacer
Rayman
Posts: 15,039
Bought a PandaPlacer and just got it working.
It is all pretty awesome. Excellent use of OpenCV with the two cameras.
Made a video of the assembly:
Comments
Got some feedback from PandaPlacer and seems was missing a bearing and also there may be missed steps.
Didn't find missed steps, but did find that my son tripped over the USB cable and broke the connector.
All fixed now though:
I should mention the tariff...
UPS slapped me with a $450 tariff on the order because it was made in China and shipped from Canada.
So, if you want to order one, pay close attention to "de Minimus" and see if you can avoid that...
Just got 0402 part placement working! This is great:
It took me a while to figure out that there is a set screw on the feeder that has to be just right. Too tight and the tape doesn't advance right. Too loose and the parts fly out like popcorn when the tape advances.
Made a big mistake though and left the allen wrench in the set screw while using the machine. That sent the allen wrench flying across the room and bent something...
Had to realign the nozzle using a marker and a white sticker, as did during assembly. After that it works perfectly. Was pulling hair out for a while though until figured out that needed realignment...
Almost got it placing P2 correctly. One edge is off by one pin. Asked Pandaplacer for help, because no idea how to fix it...
Is the part center point part of your placement co-ordinate calculation? Sometimes if the symbol was not center aligned in whatever PCB software you exported the pick'n'place file from, then the ultimate place position would be off; at least until you apply a manual offset to the place co-ordinates. That one can be a real critter to catch.
I guess the outside dims might be another param to cause an offset?... I wonder how that camera works, and if it includes the legs when measuring. I suppose it shouldn't matter for a square part, but might be a factor with rectangular bodies. I've never tried a camera alignment system, so I might be thinking old school here; where entering the part dims is important for the part auto-centering function.
Think finally have it! Key was to enable "visual compositing". Had to actually read the manual to figure that one out
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tlVqlXnv63s