Printed circuit board

SMT production needs to keep an eye on the storage temperature, humidity and timing of the solder paste, as these determine the durability of the solder joint. TURCK keeps the paste containers in refrigerators at a constant temperature and monitors them with temperature sensors. During printing, which must take place at 23 to 27 °C, the system also measures humidity. After printing, no more than eight hours should pass before the board is finally soldered.

In SMT assembly, storage and processing of the solder paste can be captured with standard sensors before the line is connected to the MES. TURCK uses the same technology as in its control cabinets: temperature and distance sensors that send data to the cloud via a condition monitoring hub, IO-Link and a switch. The concept is based on Linux and open to the user's own installations. Later, RFID is intended to prove that each container was stored correctly.

In the PCB fabrication process, the application retrieves the matching parameters for each board from the ERP and writes them to the PLC automatically. This is how KSG prevents operating errors, since any deviation in the chemical processes quickly leads to scrap. The autinityDAP platform from Schaeffler Digital Solutions provides the machine data centrally with standardised names. KSG also calculates OEE on this data basis.

An MES combines order, material and machine data and so lays the foundation for further connectivity. Würth Elektronik uses FabEagle from Kontron AIS for order and routing management, material tracking and reporting on machine states, alarms and key figures. This is demanding because a board passes through around 30 production steps and pressing operations make markings disappear. End customers also receive quality data from the MES.