Many companies invest significant effort in equipment selection but neglect the importance of maintenance and care after the equipment is put into use. Practical experience shows that:

Over 80% of pick and place machine performance degradation, frequent malfunctions, and unstable accuracy are related to inadequate maintenance and care.

This article will systematically explain the key considerations for pick and place machine maintenance and care from aspects such as daily maintenance, periodic maintenance, key component management, and personnel and system establishment, helping companies extend equipment life, improve yield, and reduce overall operating costs.

 I.Why is Pick and Place Machine Maintenance and Care So Important?

A pick-and-place machine is essentially a high-speed, high-precision, long-term operating electromechanical system, constantly operating under the following conditions:

• High-speed mechanical structure
• Frequency-starting and stopping feeding system
• High-precision vision recognition system
• Continuously operating vacuum and pneumatic system

Without systematic maintenance and upkeep, the following will inevitably occur:

• Gradually decreasing placement accuracy
• Increased rejection rate
• Increased unplanned downtime
• Shortened equipment lifespan

Good maintenance is not only about reducing malfunctions, but also a necessary condition for keeping the equipment in optimal operating condition for a long time.

II.Basic Principles of Pick-and-Place Machine Maintenance and Upkeep

Before delving into specific details, let's clarify a few core principles:

1.Prevention is better than repair

2.Maintain according to schedule, not malfunctions

3.Standardized operation, avoid reliance on experience

4.Traceable maintenance records

Only by establishing correct understanding at the system and awareness levels can maintenance and upkeep work be truly implemented.

III. Daily Maintenance Precautions for Pick-and-Place Machines (Daily/Shift)

Daily maintenance is the foundation of all maintenance work. Although the workload per instance is small, long-term adherence is crucial.

1. 1.Equipment Cleaning Management

During the operation of the pick-and-place machine, the following will be generated:

• Solder paste residue
• Dust
• Component debris
• Tape peeling waste

Key cleaning areas:

• Exterior of the placement head
• Nose mounting location
• Guide rail surface
• Waste collection area
• Camera and light source protective cover

Note: Avoid using corrosive solvents during cleaning. Do not spray liquids directly into the equipment.

2.Daily Inspection and Cleaning of Nozzles

The nozzle is one of the most easily overlooked yet most impactful components.

Daily recommendations:

• Check for nozzle blockages
• Clean solder paste or dust residue
• Check for nozzle deformation or wear
• Confirm stable vacuum suction

An abnormally high rejection rate often indicates a problem with the nozzle.

3. Feeder Status Inspection

During prolonged high-speed operation, wear and tear on the feeder is inevitable.

Routine Inspection Points:

• Smooth material peeling
• Slippage of pressure rollers
• Looseness of springs and clips
• Proper feeder installation

Any malfunctioning feeder should be stopped immediately to avoid affecting the overall production line cycle time.

IV.Periodic Maintenance of the Pick and Place Machine (Weekly/Monthly/Quarterly)

Compared to routine maintenance, periodic maintenance focuses more on systemic checks and condition recovery.

4.Mechanical Motion System Maintenance

Guide rails and lead screws

• Clean regularly and lubricate as required
• Check for abnormal noises or jamming
• Prevent excessive dust accumulation in the lubricating oil

Belts and couplings

• Check tension
• Observe for aging or cracks
• Prevent slippage from affecting accuracy

5.Vacuum and Pneumatic System Maintenance

The vacuum system directly affects the success rate of pick-up.

Key Maintenance Points:

• Clean or replace the vacuum filter
• Check for aging or leaks in the air hoses
• Confirm that the air pressure is stable within the specified range
• Check that the solenoid valve response is normal

6. Vision System Maintenance

The vision system is the "eye" of the pick-and-place machine's precision.

Maintenance Points:

• Clean the camera lens
• Check for light source brightness decay
• Perform vision calibration regularly
• Prevent dust from affecting recognition contrast

1. Special Maintenance Points for Key Components

7. Placement Head and Spindle System

The placement head is the core component of the pick-and-place machine with the highest precision requirements.

Maintenance Recommendations:

• Regularly check the spindle's smooth operation
• Pay attention to abnormal vibrations or noise
• Perform calibration according to the manufacturer's requirements
• Do not disassemble precision structures without authorization

8.Control System and Software Management

The pick-and-place machine's software system also requires maintenance.

Precautions:

• Regularly back up programs and parameters.
• Conduct thorough evaluation before software upgrades.
• Strictly control operation permissions.
• Maintain complete system logs.

1. Common Misconceptions in Maintenance

 ❌ Repairing but not maintaining

Waiting for equipment to malfunction before maintenance often affects accuracy and may even cause secondary damage.

❌Over-maintenance

Excessive lubrication and frequent disassembly/reassembly may introduce new problems.

❌  Maintenance without records

Without maintenance records, problems cannot be traced, and experience cannot be accumulated.

VII. Personnel and Systems: The Key to Effective Maintenance

Even the best equipment needs the right people to maintain it.

9.Training for Operation and Maintenance Personnel

Clearly define the boundaries between "operation" and "repair"

Equip operators with basic maintenance skills

Critical maintenance should be performed by professionals

🔟 Establish a standardized maintenance system

Suggestions include:

Daily/Weekly/Monthly maintenance checklist

Responsibility system

Abnormal reporting and closed-loop processing

Spare parts and consumable parts management

VIII. Long-term Value of Effective Maintenance

Systematic maintenance and upkeep can bring:

Long-term stable placement accuracy

Continuously reduced rejection rate

Significantly reduced unplanned downtime

Significantly extended equipment lifespan

Lower overall operating costs

Conclusion

The maintenance and upkeep of pick-and-place machines, seemingly "behind-the-scenes work," is actually one of the most cost-effective investments in SMT production.

Rather than paying high costs after a failure occurs, it's better to keep the equipment in optimal operating condition through scientific, standardized, and continuous maintenance management.

Only pick-and-place machines that are diligently maintained can continuously create value in long-term production.

💡 Want to learn more about ETON’s SMT solutions?

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