NPM-VF

A state-of-the-art specialised machine for the placement of non-standard (odd-form) and conventional (THT) components, built on the tried-and-tested global NPM platform. In the electronics manufacturing (EMS) sector, it addresses one of the biggest challenges: the effective elimination of costly and error-prone manual labour for components that standard SMT machines cannot handle.

Intended for: a specific type of manufacturing company that produces electronics with a high proportion of heavy, bulky or through-hole (THT) components.

Category	Pick & Place machines
Our solution	SMT technologies
Supplier	Panasonic Connect

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Key parameters

Up to 4,500 cph per placement head (components placed per hour)
Up to 30 feeders
Components ranging in size from 5×5 mm to 130×35 mm and up to 60 mm in height.
Maximum component weight 200 g
2-station head, 3-station head (the number indicates the number of tool positions)

Key benefits

Thanks to the dual-beam (2-beam / 2-head) design, cycle times of up to 0.65 seconds per component and speeds of up to 4,500 cph are achieved
Feeders and tray feeders allow material to be replenished directly whilst the machine is running
A single machine can replace approximately 3 to 5 operators on the production line who would otherwise be loading components manually
Each head can accommodate up to 3 tools simultaneously, with both mechanical grippers and vacuum pipettes available

FAQ

What happens if the component pins do not align with the holes in the PCB?

The machine has an integrated Insertion Error Detection system. After insertion, a height sensor checks whether the component has been placed too high (which indicates a bent pin outside the hole). If an error is detected, the machine automatically sends the board back via the reverse conveyor to the operator to prevent damage to the PCB or a line blockage.

What types of component packaging (feeders) does the machine support?

The machine handles an extremely wide range of feeders – loose components in sticks or tubes (Stackable Stick Feeder), components on tape in a box (Radial / Axial Tape Feeder), components in plastic trays (Single / Double Tray Feeder) and standard SMT reels (Intelligent Tape Feeder).

What types of placement heads are available and how do they differ?

The machine utilises four specialised types of gripping mechanisms (tools) on the head:

Standard nozzle: Conventional suction of the component from above
Body Chuck: Mechanically grips the component by its housing (ideal for transformers without a flat surface)
Lead Chuck: Grips the component directly by its metal pins (e.g. radial electrolytic capacitors).
Swing Nozzle: Rotates the component by 90° after lifting it, which resolves situations where the component is oriented differently in its packaging (e.g. on a spool) than on the PCB