28 reels, 2 heads, $5799 PNP getting good reviews

T Chap · 2014-02-16 18:09

I am probably ordering this in a few days, getting a few more questions answered by the company. Watch this video at almost 5:00 in to see the speed with only 1 head.

28 Reels, 1 tray for bulk parts.

8mm=21 reels,12mm= 4reels ,16mm=2reels

http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2013/06/18/neoden-tm-240a-automatic-pick-and-place-machine/

There is a 16 reel version for under 4k.

Tutorials from the company:

http://www.youtube.com/user/NeoDentech

Bean · 2014-02-17 06:10

Please keep us up to date on this.
I am VERY interested in getting one if it works.

Thanks,
Bean

T Chap · 2014-02-17 06:37

Hello Bean. I have a correction. There are 28 reels plus the front tray, not 32. Also, the price is 5799 shipped. The price I quoted was because that was a dangerous proto group price. There are a number of good reviews online. Company communication is excellent. Ships 3-5 days at your door.

1) Pick and Place Machine TM240A: 1
2) 4 types of nozzle: Totally 6
(Version: XS2, S2, M1, ML1)
3) 8G SD Card: 1
4) Card reader: 1
5) Nozzle disassemble tool: 1 set
6) Adjustment tool for Nylon Spool Wheel: 1
7) Nozzle cleaning tool: 1 set
8) User manual: 1
9) Video training course: 1 set
10) PCB Coordinate file transformation tool: 1

T Chap · 2014-02-20 04:54

The machine left China today, I will post more info when it gets here first of next week.

Bean · 2014-02-22 17:48

Can you tell us where you purchased it ?
We will be in the market pretty quickly.

Bean

jmg · 2014-02-22 19:06

T Chap wrote: »

The machine left China today, I will post more info when it gets here first of next week.

Looks cool, is there a paste dispense option ?

T Chap · 2014-02-22 20:08

http://www.neodentech.com/bbx/996358-996358.html

They are really good on emails for support. See contact info on their site. I have not looked into paste dispensing as I use stencils only. I do not think this machine has that option, but I could be wrong on that.

Bean · 2014-02-25 05:07

Did you receive the machine yet ?
Can you explain the purchase process. I've never ordered anything this expensive from China.
Did you have to wire the money ? How did you pay ? How was their English ? Did you get questions answered ?

Our funds have grown and we are going to order one, but want to make sure we do it right.

Thanks,
Bean

T Chap · 2014-02-25 06:05

It is on a truck for delivery today. Wire transfer is the method, very easy to do online at my bank at least, just a couple of minutes to enter their SWIFT information and click send. They shipped within 2 days of my wire being received. DHL was about 4 or 5 days maybe including the weekend. English is excellent over emails, I never talked on the phone but they have answered many questions in detail, no issues at all with communication. No complaints at all. I have been consolidating component values to reduce the reels needed over various boards since it only holds 21 - 8mm tapes. It is doable to change reels, but looks to be a chore to rethread the reels, tie up cellophane on the take up reel. I will explore a faster process for complete reel change out once I get some experience with it. Also, I a making an aluminum plate that will attach to the fingers versus mounting the boards to the fingers. This way, I can place any number of individual boards on the aluminum plate with screws, and run any combination of multiples. Photos later today hopefully.

Bean · 2014-02-26 04:23

Any news ?

Bean

T Chap · 2014-02-26 04:36

Yes DHL delivered it late yesterday 5 minutes after I got on the freeway heading home. I hope to have time to plug it in today and run the test board they include for practice. DHL showed up early in the day, but realized they never requested me to pay the 175 or so customs taxes. So they left and then I had to make the payment, then they brought it back much later. So, if you do it, try to get the duties paid in advance else DHL may overlook it and cause a delay,

Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) · 2014-02-26 06:01

Looks Like a great machine. It's fun to watch it in action. Incredible speed! :cool:

You won't have to worry about paying for repairs while it's under warranty (except possibly shipping)however, do you know if it requires routine maintenance of any kind? Would going out of alignment be an issue? and can it be adjusted through built in software options? If you had to ship it back for warranty repair, would you have to pay shipping both ways?

Good luck with it.

T Chap · 2014-02-26 06:56

Bob, I have no idea on any of those questions. I figured that a lot of the issues I could solve myself if there were problems, but as I understand it, it seems simple enough to ship parts dhl for replacement parts. I also bought what the sell as a "repair kit".

T Chap · 2014-02-26 08:21

First test with 0603 using their demo board and program. I put thin double sided tape to hold the part in place. Works perfectly, my tape had some bubbles in it so some parts are not perfect as a result.

Bean · 2014-02-26 08:29

Wow. That looks good.
Do you have any 0402 parts to try ?

Bean

T Chap · 2014-02-26 09:24

No but I can get some to test but it will be a few days to. I don't see a problem with 0402.

Bean · 2014-02-28 05:16

Was wondering if you have used the TM240A to populate any of your own boards ?

What is your impression now that you have had a couple days to "play" with it ?

Bean

T Chap · 2014-02-28 05:43

Bean, no time yet to do anything with it other than run their demo file. But, first impressions are that is it rock solid, well made and accurate. The kit includes a extras of the parts that will wear out with plenty of extra heads. It is very fast for a cheap unit. Hopefully this weekend I can put a half day into learning it. There are ULP's online for Eagle, but I am leaning towards manual data entry in Excel since I want to be able to make tweaks on the fly from any computer with or without eagle on it. I still need to order a few reels to be able to make my own boards, that is on the to do list for Monday. If you google the model number, there are several other forums that have done group buys that have reviews. If you need to change out reels frequently, there is a little effort to do this, it is not difficult but you have to manually re-thread the tape in to it's slot and then put the cellophane into the takeup. I am modifying component values to try to get all 0603 passives on the machine at once for my 4 main boards. To change one reel would take a minute or two.

I will definitely post an update when I run my first boards, but that may be end of next week. If you have any specific questions, I am happy to try something on the machine in the mean time with the demo board. On their youtube channel they have a lot of good stuff to watch.

In the manual, there is no "getting started step 1, 2, 3". I will put together my own in house programming tutorial when I figure it out.

T Chap · 2014-03-01 13:24

Bean, I have time to start learning this machine today. It is pretty simple to get up and running. First, you get an understanding of the data format, after that it is very simple to create a text file or excel etc with the values. I loaded a board and grabbed a few positions values out of eagle, put them in the spreadsheet and saved to SD. The parts place with no effort. The machine makes several attempts to pick up a part, incrementing the tape each time. If it can't detect a part ( vacuum pressure ) is stalls with a long tone. In the example file below, you can see I am using both heads on the same Stack ( ie a .01 0603). I noticed that the software seems to detect where it is efficient to pick up both parts at once and go place them, versus picking them up one at a time.

My board was cut from a panel and is not perfect with the eagle coords to the edges, but it placed certainly within spec for the solder to manage any offset. In it also very easy to create offsets per position, or per board. In real use, I would make an effort to adjust the offset per panel or board. With the laser it would be fast to make any minor offset tweaks in advance of running. It is easy to specify if you are placing just one small board, or use that board in an XY array. It is very easy to create an offset for the pick location (stack offset). You specify how much to increment the tape with the Feed Set. You can offset the entire board with Origin offset. Parts are input in mm, including the height of the part, rotation in any degree. You can "skip" a part.

The box that it came in makes a good temporary work bench.

Example .csv file that places 4 .01 uf parts.

%	Origin Offset	X	Y							
65535	0	0	0							
										
%	Stack Offset	Stack 	X	Y						
65535	1	0	0	0	tray					
65535	1	1	0	0	0.01					
65535	1	2	0	0	0.1					
65535	1	3	0	0						
65535	1	4	0	0						
65535	1	5	0	0						
65535	1	6	0	0						
65535	1	7	0	0						
65535	1	8	0	0						
65535	1	9	0	0						
65535	1	10	0	0						
65535	1	11	0	0						
65535	1	12	0	0						
65535	1	13	0	0						
65535	1	14	0	0						
65535	1	15	0	0						
65535	1	16	0	0						
65535	1	17	0	0						
65535	1	18	0	0						
65535	1	19	0	0						
65535	1	20	0	0						
65535	1	21	0	0						
65535	1	22	0	0						
65535	1	23	0	0						
65535	1	24	0	0						
65535	1	25	0	0						
65535	1	26	0	0						
65535	1	27	0	0						
										
%	Feeding Set	Stack 	Feed Distance							
65535	2	0	18							
65535	2	1	4							
65535	2	2	4							
65535	2	3	4							
65535	2	4	4							
65535	2	5	4							
65535	2	6	4							
65535	2	7	4							
65535	2	8	4							
65535	2	9	4							
65535	2	10	4							
65535	2	11	4							
65535	2	12	4							
65535	2	13	4							
65535	2	14	4							
65535	2	15	4							
65535	2	16	4							
65535	2	17	4							
65535	2	18	4							
65535	2	19	4							
65535	2	20	4							
65535	2	21	4							
65535	2	22	8							
65535	2	23	8							
65535	2	24	8							
65535	2	25	8							
65535	2	26	8							
65535	2	27	8							
										
										
%	Jointed Board	X	Y	(used if placing in an array)						
										
%	Enter part data below									
										
%	Head	Stack	X	Y	Angle	Height	Skip	Description	Comment	
%	Set speed for placement.  Use  as first value, then 1 &#8211; 15 for range of 10% to 150% speeds									
0	10	0	0	0	0	0	0			
										
1	1	1	19.685	6.35	90	1	0	U1	0.01	
2	2	2	132.08	47.625	90	1	0	U1	0.01	
3	1	1	132.08	51.435	90	1	0	U1	0.01	
4	2	2	114.3	41.91	90	1	0	U1	0.01

T Chap · 2014-03-05 10:13

This is the second board test, placing only 105 passive 0603 parts. I haven't started working on larger parts, those place by hand in under 5 minutes and are not a priority for the machine. The 105 passives in the video are placed at full speed(150%) placed in about 1minute 15seconds. This is using both heads so it is faster. I will soon change head 2 to be used for larger parts, so the 0603 parts will only get placed with one head in the future and will take slightly longer. On the first test, I made no effort to calibrate to the board position to line up the laser with the fiducials. It placed the first board fine and no issues on reflow. The second board I started making some efforts towards learning how to calibrate the pickup location ( center on tape pick up points ) as well as setting fidicuals centers with the laser. The second board placed fine, all parts slightly biased to the left but not an issue for the oven. So far it is working well.

Here is a crude iphone vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBh0Dz6g78M

Bean · 2014-03-06 04:48

Thank you for posting the video.

If it's not too much trouble, could you post the text file that you used on the machine ?

I'm I little lost as to set the speed to 150%.

Thanks,

Bean

T Chap · 2014-03-06 05:02

Bean, the machine has speeds that range from 10% to 150%. Not sure why they use that format. In the file, you can set speeds for any individual part as a number between 10% and 150%. On the machine panel, there is a high speed button that puts it in maximum speed. I am not sure yet if that button overrides the individual settings in the file, but I will need to find out soon since the larger parts will need to be slowed down a bit to avoid rotation during transit. Here is the excel file used on the video. Notice that in the file you have an option to skip a part = 1. So all parts that are non 0603 are skipped at the moment.

The forum wont allow a .csv so I will post it.

Here is an example that shows a speed line added to the part list. The speed is an imaginary part with a component number of 0, the 10 tells the machine that the speed is 100%. You can insert this line anywhere you want in front of a part with a speed desired for the next component to follow, then put a line after that component to set the speed back.

%	Head	Stack	X	Y	Angle	Height	Skip	Description	Comment
%									
0	10	0	0	0	0	0.5	0

%	Origin Offset	X	Y						
65535	0	0	0						
									
%	Stack Offset	Stack 	X	Y					
65535	1	0	0	0	Tray				
65535	1	1	0	0	0.01uf				
65535	1	2	0	0	0.1uf				
65535	1	3	0	0	10k				
65535	1	4	0	0	47k				
65535	1	5	0	0	330ohm				
65535	1	6	0	0	220k				
65535	1	7	0	0	47				
65535	1	8	0	0	100				
65535	1	9	0	0	4.99k				
65535	1	10	0	0	47pf				
65535	1	11	0	0	1.24K				
65535	1	12	0	0	1uf				
65535	1	13	0	0	1m				
65535	1	14	0	0	x				
65535	1	15	0	0	x				
65535	1	16	0	0	x				
65535	1	17	0	0	x				
65535	1	18	0	0	x				
65535	1	19	0	0	x				
65535	1	20	0	0	x				
65535	1	21	0	0	x				
65535	1	22	0	0	x				
65535	1	23	0	0	x				
65535	1	24	0	0	x				
65535	1	25	0	0	x				
65535	1	26	0	0	x				
65535	1	27	0	0	x				
									
%	Feeding Set	Stack 	Feed Distance						
65535	2	0	18						
65535	2	1	4						
65535	2	2	4						
65535	2	3	4						
65535	2	4	4						
65535	2	5	4						
65535	2	6	4						
65535	2	7	4						
65535	2	8	4						
65535	2	9	4						
65535	2	10	4						
65535	2	11	4						
65535	2	12	4						
65535	2	13	4						
65535	2	14	4						
65535	2	15	4						
65535	2	16	4						
65535	2	17	4						
65535	2	18	4						
65535	2	19	4						
65535	2	20	4						
65535	2	21	4						
65535	2	22	8						
65535	2	23	8						
65535	2	24	8						
65535	2	25	8						
65535	2	26	8						
65535	2	27	8						
									
									
%	Jointed Board	X	Y	(used if placing in an array)					
									
%	Enter part data below								
									
%	Head	Stack	X	Y	Angle	Height	Skip	Description	Comment
%									
0	10	0	0	0	0	0.5	0		
1	1	2	114.3	41.91	90	0.5	0	C1	.1uF
2	2	2	39.37	40.64	90	0.5	0	C2	.1uF
3	1	2	132.08	51.435	90	0.5	0	C3V3A	.1uF
4	2	2	20.955	19.685	90	0.5	0	C6	.1uF
5	1	2	18.415	40.005	90	0.5	0	CA1	.1uF
6	2	2	20.955	36.195	90	0.5	0	CA2	.1uF
7	1	2	19.685	53.34	90	0.5	0	CA3	.1uF
8	2	2	23.495	53.34	90	0.5	0	CA4	.1uF
9	1	2	58.42	52.07	90	0.5	0	CAUX1	.1uF
10	2	2	64.77	52.07	90	0.5	0	CAUX2	.1uF
11	1	2	69.215	43.815	90	0.5	0	CAUX3	.1uF
12	2	2	106.68	30.48	90	0.5	0	CAUX4	.1uF
13	1	2	134.62	27.305	90	0.5	0	CVINB	.1uF
14	2	2	27.305	43.18	90	0.5	0	CVINB5	.1uF
15	1	2	29.845	52.07	90	0.5	0	CVINB6	.1uF
16	2	2	37.465	53.34	90	0.5	0	CVINB7	.1uF
17	1	2	41.275	53.34	90	0.5	0	CVINB8	.1uF
18	2	2	132.08	47.625	90	0.5	0	HOME_C	.1uF
19	1	2	93.98	41.275	90	0.5	0	ITRIPC	.1uF
20	2	2	84.455	33.02	90	0.5	0	PCF3	.1uF
21	1	2	55.245	22.225	90	0.5	0	PR1	.1uF
22	2	2	66.04	33.655	90	0.5	0	PR2	.1uF
23	1	2	55.245	41.275	90	0.5	0	PR3	.1uF
24	2	2	45.085	31.115	90	0.5	0	PR4	.1uF
25	1	2	82.55	45.085	90	0.5	0	RS	.1uF
26	2	2	2.54	25.4	90	0.5	0	TEMP	.1uF
27	1	2	13.97	19.685	90	0.5	0	USBC1	.1uF
28	2	2	114.3	37.465	90	0.5	0	BC2-.047	.1uF
29	1	10	11.43	41.275	90	0.5	0	USBRX	47pf
30	2	10	11.43	36.195	90	0.5	0	USBTX	47pf
31	1	1	134.62	32.385	90	0.5	0	C3V3C	.01uf
32	2	1	19.685	6.35	90	0.5	0	DTR	.01uf
33	1	1	69.85	33.655	90	0.5	0	PCF1	.01uf
34	1	6	39.37	36.195	90	0.5	0	ENA	220k
35	2	6	39.37	31.75	90	0.5	0	ENB	220k
36	1	6	93.345	51.435	90	0.5	0	RAUX1	220k
37	2	6	113.665	51.435	90	0.5	0	RAUX2	220k
38	1	6	107.315	51.435	90	0.5	0	RAUX3	220k
39	2	6	106.68	34.29	90	0.5	0	RAUX4	220k
40	1	4	24.13	38.735	90	0.5	0	RA1	47K
41	2	4	24.765	34.29	90	0.5	0	RA2	47K
42	1	4	28.575	36.195	90	0.5	0	RA3	47K
43	2	4	28.575	31.75	90	0.5	0	RA4	47K
44	1	4	28.575	27.94	90	0.5	0	RB1	47K
45	2	4	33.02	36.195	90	0.5	0	RB2	47K
46	1	4	33.02	31.75	90	0.5	0	RB3	47K
47	2	4	33.02	27.94	90	0.5	0	RB4	47K
48	1	11	97.79	32.385	90	0.5	0	CUR	1.24K
49	2	11	71.12	51.435	90	0.5	0	ENCA	1.24K
50	1	11	68.58	46.99	90	0.5	0	ENCB	1.24K
51	1	11	78.105	41.275	90	0.5	0	R13	1.24K
52	1	11	140.33	13.97	90	0.5	0	R15	1.24K
53	1	11	73.66	41.275	90	0.5	0	R17	1.24K
54	1	11	77.47	51.435	90	0.5	0	RAUX1B	1.24K
55	1	11	85.725	51.435	90	0.5	0	RAUX2B	1.24K
56	1	11	99.695	51.435	90	0.5	0	RAUX3B	1.24K
57	1	11	106.68	38.1	90	0.5	0	RAUX3B1	1.24K
58	1	11	73.66	37.465	90	0.5	0	RP11	1.24K
59	2	11	78.105	37.465	90	0.5	0	RP12	1.24K
60	1	3	114.3	46.355	90	0.5	0	HOME_R	10k
61	2	3	41.91	5.715	90	0.5	0	LM1	10k
62	1	3	69.215	40.005	90	0.5	0	PUP1	10k
63	2	3	101.6	32.385	90	0.5	0	R10	10k
64	1	3	100.33	21.59	90	0.5	0	SW10	10k
65	2	3	116.84	26.67	90	0.5	0	SW11	10k
66	1	3	81.28	20.32	90	0.5	0	SW6	10k
67	2	3	60.96	22.225	90	0.5	0	SW7	10k
68	1	3	66.04	22.225	90	0.5	0	SW8	10k
69	2	3	116.84	20.955	90	0.5	0	SW9	10k
70	1	9	33.02	23.495	90	0.5	0	R1	4.99k
71	2	9	29.21	47.625	90	0.5	0	R5	4.99k
72	1	9	35.56	40.64	90	0.5	0	R6	4.99k
73	2	9	33.02	18.415	90	0.5	0	R11	4.99k
74	1	9	31.75	40.64	90	0.5	0	R12	4.99k
75	1	5	41.275	11.43	90	0.5	0	R19	330
76	2	5	36.83	11.43	90	0.5	0	R20	330
77	1	5	106.68	20.955	90	0.5	0	SW	330
78	2	5	111.76	20.955	90	0.5	0	SW1	330
79	1	5	119.38	44.45	90	0.5	0	R3	330
80	2	5	140.33	29.21	90	0.5	0	R7	330
81	1	5	17.145	36.195	90	0.5	0	LM2	330
82	1	7	135.25	20.32	90	0.5	0	BR2	47
83	2	7	50.165	45.085	90	0.5	0	R4 ???	47
%									
									
84	1	1	36.83	6.35	90	0.5	1	TR1	3904
85	2	1	128.27	27.305	90	1	1	C3V3B	10uf
86	2	1	128.27	32.385	90	1	1	CVIN	10uf
87	2	1	13.97	6.985	90	1	1	FT232	10uf
88	1	13	93.98	36.83	90	0.5	0	R14	1m
89	2	12	99.695	26.035	90	0.5	0	ITRIPC1	1uf
%									
90	2	1	59.69	46.355	90	1	1	CR	5m
91	2	1	13.335	48.26	90	1	1	RXUSB	grn
92	2	1	127	47.625	90	1	1	3V3	grn
93	2	1	140.33	33.65	90	1	1	5V	grn
94	2	1	13.335	53.975	90	1	1	TXUSB	red
%									
95	2	1	17.78	13.335	90	1	1	FT232RL	FT232RL
96	2	1	40.005	24.13	90	1	1	MEM1	24LC512SOIC
97	2	1	129.47	39.37	90	1	1	3.3	3.3VDPAK
98	2	1	132.08	12.7	90	1	1	BUZC1	330uF
99	2	1	20.955	46.99	90	1	1	40106	IC1
100	2	1	36.83	46.99	90	1	1	40106	IC2
101	2	1	130.17	20.32	90	1	1	LM3862	LM386
102	2	1	99.695	39.37	90	1	1	IC3	LM393D
103	2	1	85.725	39.37	90	1	1	U$6	MAX3430
104	2	1	5.08	19.05	90	1	1	U$3	MAX6634
105	2	1	17.78	27.94	90	1	1	PCF2	PCF8574
106	2	1	74.295	26.035	90	1	1	PCF4	PCF8574
107	2	1	88.265	26.035	90	1	1	PCF8574	PCF8574
108	2	1	55.245	31.75	90	1	1	PROP	PROP
109	2	1	132.08	4.445	90	1	1	U7	buzzPUI
%									
110	2	1	2.54	12.065	90	1	1	Fid 1	Fid 1
111	2	1	147.32	65.405	90	1	1	Fid 2	Fid 2

I included the fiducials in the file for reference. You can enter edit, move the laser to the fiducial marks to see if it is correct, if not then add the offsets to the Origin Offset in the first part of the file. You also can move the needle to each component in the tape and check the pick up location, and make individual offsets in the file as well under stack offset.

Bean · 2014-03-06 05:48

Thanks, that helps a lot.
We haven't received our funds yet, but when we do the TM240a will be our first purchase.

Bean

Bean · 2014-04-03 05:49

Now that you have had some time to play.... I mean work with the machine, what is your opinion ?

Have you had any major problem ?

Do you still think it is well worth the money ?

Just wondering because we might be buying one soon.

Thanks,
Bean

T Chap · 2014-04-08 05:43

Bean, yes I have been using it a good bit and it is a lot of fun. I have gotten used to the concept of running off the SD card. At first this is a little clunky to swap back and forth. It is easy to make simple adjustments on the machine itself and save the file. Instead of using the mounting "fingers", I machined a work surface that is a bout 13" x 15" or so. It is holes to match my board mounting holes drilled in it to allow for 6-32 screws to be put in from beneath. Only a 1/16" of the 6-32 shows above the board. All my boards have .145" holes for mounting. So I have the holes/screws in the board arranged such that I can easily drop on an array of 5 of my main board, 4 of the smaller motor driver board, and 1 of and LCD driver board. I have files made up for running the 5 main boards, but this could just as easily be adjusted anywhere from 1 to 10 boards with a few clicks to select which "jointed boards" are active. You have to request the password from the company, they don't like to just give it out without a request. The password is mandatory to adjust the fine tuning on the part pick XY location, a some parts need a slight bias at the pickup point. Also, the needle that increments the tape needs some tweaks to better find the tape cog holes. After I made the fine tuning for my specific tapes, I now can load on any of my boards, hit run and walk away. I intend to make a better quality video, hopefully soon. I place mostly 0603, a Prop, 1206, 3216, SO16, SO8. Once you get a program dialed in with your stack configured, it is very easy to save a new file for a new board, just drop in the coords for the new board. Very simple stuff. Regarding the mounting board with screws, this technique allows for a flexible build. If I am in a rush and need only a set of boards, this means a matter of minutes to build and entire set of 3 to 5 boards per system. However, it allows for making multiples of 10 of each boards as well if I want run larger batches. The jointed board is a section of the config that allows you to enter offsets of boards that are copies of the first board. So, instead of having to have a large $250 stainless stencil for EACH type of board, I have only one stencil that has about 10 boards cut in it. This makes for a little more effort to stencil boards one a time, but that is no big deal. This technique allows for fast placment and removal of a board, versus making the adjustments with the fingers and springs etc. I don't like that idea, although it works. With a hole pattern using pins(or screws) and a work surface that is firmly attached, there is less concern about whether the boards are cut accurately to square up on the fingers and their standard mount method. In terms of basic operation, I put on the smallest head and the largest head. The smaller head will still pick up a 1206, although I slow the speed down on larger parts. The larger head picks up the SO16 easily.

Overall, I am very pleased with the machine. It is really fast, accurate, never misses. My previous method of running boards was my own pick and place CNC modification that was slow and required manual tape incrementation in the feed, plus only one tape could be loaded at a time. So this is a gigantic time saver for me. From about 45 minutes to make a set of boards for one system to less than 5 minutes including stenciling now.

I have been getting emails from them that they are doing a 10% discount right now.

Vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBlIT-kK7Pk

Bean · 2014-07-08 11:08

We got our TM240A going today.
I am really happy with placement of 0603 parts.

Bean

T Chap · 2014-07-08 11:11

That is awesome. Like I mentioned, you must get them to send you the password, tell them the pin is not aligning to the cog holes and they will send it. You will want to adjust the pin Y value per reel as some will not be perfect. If it is not perfect in the cog hole, it will stick. But once you set it, things go effortlessly. There are a few tricks to learn, if you need to call let me know.

Martin Hodge · 2015-05-05 11:02

I found a 220A on eBay. lightly used and working well. This is going to increase my run's productivity x10 but I'll still have to do some stuff by hand. I already wish I had the extra feeder slots of the 240. Also, NeoDen's new 245 model looks interesting with it's vibratory feeders and tray area.

Bean · 2015-05-05 11:48

Nice find Martin. It looks to be in really good shape.

Bean

LoopyByteloose · 2015-05-06 20:38

I don't think you can easily get the customs duties collected by DHL paid in advance..

Why? Well you paid for the machine via a SWIFT wire transfer that generally costs me a total of $45USD in fees ($30 to the sender's bank, $15 to the reciever's bank) when I send money abroad. You would have to have the company collect the customs duties and wire back money to DHL for yet another $45USD in fees.

That would be somewhat silly. It is best to just deal with things the way they are and have the payment for customs onhand for the DHL driver.

T Chap · 2015-05-09 07:34

Looks nice. Be sure to get the password from Neoden if you didn't get it already. It makes things much easier to be able to dial in the needle as some tapes are not alike. My 240A is a workhorse, I love it. I would go nuts with a 220, definitely helps with the extra tapes.

28 reels, 2 heads, $5799 PNP getting good reviews

Comments