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Feeder Setup (Video Guide)

The FTP PCB has two different types of components: resistors and LEDs. We'll just be populating up the resistors to demonstrate disabling placements.

Powered Feeders

If you purchased any 8mm Photon Feeders, we highly recommend using them for populating the FTP board. Follow the instructions for setting them up now, and then proceed to the test run once complete.

Mount a Strip Feeder

  1. Use two M3x10 button head screws and two M3 wingnuts to secure the printed tray feeder through onto the staging plate using holes: C15 and E15. Install the feeder to the staging plate

  2. For each component, cut a strip of component tape off the reel about 125mm long.

  3. Slide the Resistors into the left-most tray feeder with the tape feed holes on the left. Slide the LEDs into the adjacent tray. Don't peel back the clear covering tape yet.

  4. In OpenPnP, connect to your LumenPnP and home it. Connect to your LumenPnP and home it

Add Feeders

  1. Navigate to the Feeders tab in the top-right pane. Switch to the feeders list

  2. Click on the "Add Feeder" icon button. Start adding a new feeder

  3. Select ReferenceTrayFeeder and click Accept. Select and add a new reference tray feeder

  4. In the lower-right panel, you'll be in the Configuration tab. Change the Part to be R_0603_1608Metric-R_Small. Assign the resistor to the tray feeder

  5. Set the Y Offset to -4. This is the space between components on the tape. Set feeder offset

  6. Set the Y Tray Count to 30. This is the number of components available on the feeder before it needs to be manually moved forward. Set the feeder tray count

  7. Set the Pick location to: X=45, Y=175, Z=20 as a starting point. Set the starting location for the left feeder

    Feeder rotation value

    The Rotation field in feeder configuration sets the orientation that OpenPnP thinks the component starts at in the tape. If you find that your parts are placing with a consistent rotation offset, try adjusting this value (start with increments of 90 degrees) until your parts are placing with the correct orientation.

  8. Click on the "Position Camera" icon button to move the top camera roughly over the left feeder. Move the top camera over the left feeder's approximate location

  9. Position the center of the top camera feed over the center of the top-most slot holding a resistor in the tray. You can drag the reticle in the camera feed, or use the jog buttons. Manually move closer to the correct feeder location

  10. Zoom in on the camera feed and precisely position the center of the reticle over the center of the slot holding the resistor. The resistor itself may not be perfectly centered, that is fine. Manually move closer to the correct feeder location

  11. Click the "Capture Camera Location" icon button to save the XY position of the start of the feeder. Save the current camera position as the start place for the feeder

  12. Click Apply to save the feeder settings Save feeder settings

  13. Click the Enable checkbox in the feeder list. Enable the feeder so that it is used

  14. Do the same procedure again for the LED feeder. You'll assign the part LED_0603_1608Metric-LED_Small to the new feeder.

Fine-tuning feeder height

  1. Navigate to the Feeders tab in the top-right pane. Switch to the feeders list

  2. Select the feeder you want to start with and click on the "Position Nozzle" icon button to bring the nozzle over the feeder. Position the nozzle over the feeder

  3. Use the Jog controls to lower the Z axis until the nozzle is touching the surface of the plastic tape cover. Use the jog controls to position the nozzle over the feeder Position the nozzle over the feeder Position the nozzle over the feeder

  4. Click on the "Capture Nozzle" icon button to save the new Z height of the feeder. Save the nozzle position

  5. Jog the Z axis safely upwards, and then jog XY gantry away from the feeder. Move the Tool Head away from the feeder

  6. Remove the tape cover from the feeder.

  7. Click the "Pick" icon button to pick a component from the feeder. If the component is picked up properly, your Z-height is correct. If not, you should: Pick from the feeder

    1. Lower the Z height of the feeder by 0.1mm
    2. Press Apply to save the change
    3. Home the machine
    4. Try picking a component from the feeder again.

    Effective Safe Z Coordinate Error

    If you get an "Effective Safe Z coordinate" error as shown below, be sure that you've set the height of the part you're picking in the "Parts" tab.

  8. After you've successfully picked a component, in the machine Machine Controls pane, switch to the Special Tab. Switch to the special tab

  9. Recycle the component you've successfully picked up Recycle the component you've picked up

  10. Copy the final Z height, select the other feeder, paste it for the other feeder, and press Apply Apply the z height from the first feeder to the second one

  11. Test picking a component from the other feeder Pick from the feeder

Next Steps

Next is running a test job.