SIPLACE head and gantry fault finding

Getting started

Start with a message describing the situation. If you prefer the form, choose “Troubleshooting” under “Type of service”.

In your first message, if you can, tell us:

• The machine model, for example SIPLACE SX, X or TX.
• Which head (CP20, CPP, TwinHead), or whether it is the gantry.
• What happens: the symptom, as the operator sees it.
• Since when it has been happening, and whether anything changed before.
• The machine's bug report, if you can export it.

Vacuum problems

On the head we begin with the nozzles, the first thing to check when vacuum is insufficient. Disc filters, O-rings, seals and the PRV valve, which drives the segment's venturi, are covered by scheduled maintenance, as are the air channels, which the dust drawn in with the components gradually clogs.

Further reading: the guide to common SIPLACE errors, chapter 2, “Pickup error: causes and diagnosis”.

Encoder and optical scale errors

With encoder errors on the axes, the optical scale often has grease or oil on it: on site we clean it gently with isopropyl alcohol and a non-abrasive cloth.

Further reading: the SMT line maintenance guide, chapter 4, “Gantry, axes and vision system”.

Segment Z axis and star axis

For errors on a segment's Z axis or on the star axis, diagnosis starts remotely, as with the other symptoms; we come on site when the head needs hands-on work. The CP20 is the most delicate head: the coupling between the axes and the star needs care.

What the maintenance of each head includes: head and gantry maintenance.

Failed pick-ups and rejects

When failed pick-ups and rejects increase, we look at the machine's statistics to see whether they are concentrated on one feeder, one head or one component; on the head, the first check is the nozzles: worn tip, dirty with flux or blocked.

Further reading: the guide to common SIPLACE errors, chapters 1 and 2, “The step-by-step diagnostic method” and “Pickup error: causes and diagnosis”.

Component recognition

If the camera does not recognise the leads, the pads or the component and the rejects concern one type of component, the starting point is the component shape: we review it with your team against the real measurements of the component and the tape, remotely as well. If the error affects all components, we look at the vision hardware: optics, lighting and calibration.

Further reading: the guide to common SIPLACE errors, chapter 3, “Recognition and vision errors”, and the SIPLACE Pro and component shape guide.

Remote or on site

Fault finding starts remotely. We agree the access channel with your IT, a VPN or a supervised remote session; then we connect to the machine, read and analyse its bug reports and close with a report of what was done. No permanent software is installed without agreement.

We come on site when the head or gantry needs hands-on work, or when nothing more can be done remotely: the repair is done on site, and we organise the visit ourselves, anywhere in Italy.

If the fault is on the machine rather than the head, there is machine maintenance, with repairs and troubleshooting on SIPLACE machines and software. To prevent faults on heads and gantries, there is scheduled maintenance.

To see how remote support on your line works and, in general, when remote work is enough and when a visit is needed, read chapter 6 of the guide to common SIPLACE errors.