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Copyright © 2018 Useful Partners, LLC.

 Introduction and Overview
Please read this manual in its entirety before working on the machine.

1. INTRODUCTION

This manual covers installation, setup, customization, and operation of the

Neoden 4 pick-and-place machine. Populating PCBs with surface mount
technology (SMT) can be as challenging as the circuit design itself, and the
Neoden 4 provides the user with all the tools necessary to work with a
wide variety of components in a wide variety of packaging. The Neoden
4 is not a knock-off. It is an original design that has been engineered from
the ground-up to provide simple, precise and flexible pick-and-place
functionality. It is ideal for prototyping and small runs but is equally up
to the task of producing large quantities of boards: the PCBs in all Neoden
machines are made using a single Neoden 4. At its own factory, Neoden
mills its own precision metal parts, winds its own motors for the feeders
and peelers, writes its own proprietary software and assembles machines
covered by over 50 patents. With ISO 9001 certification in pick-and-place
quality control, Neoden rigorously tests each machine for days before
shipping.

1.1. Design principles. At its core, the Neoden 4 is a 4-axis Windows-

controlled CNC with four separate vacuum nozzles, each connected to its
own vacuum pump. The machine employs a single X-Y coordinate system
covering the entire movement range of the head, which is 310x500 mm.
With resolution of .01 mm (10 µm) and repeatability of .02 mm (20 µm),
any X-Y coordinate can be identified as the location of a feeder, the start of
an array of components in a tray or short tape, a fiducial mark or the
location at which a component is to be placed on a circuit board.

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 Figure 1

1.2. Feeders and Nozzles. Electric tape-and-reel feeders, vibration

feeders and virtual tray feeders are all supported. Because of the flexibility
of the architecture, and the need to work with affordable quantities of
parts, short tapes can also be configured on the machine’s bed. Any size
nozzle can be installed in any of the four locations in the head, so a single
machine can handle all of the necessary components without the need for
nozzle changes.

The spring-loaded nozzles simply snap in and pull out of the head. Your
Neoden 4 comes supplied with a nozzle kit containing a variety of sizes.
The following nozzles are recommended for various component sizes:

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 CN03 (0201)

CN040 (0402)

CN065 (0402, 0603)

(0805, 1206, diodes

CN100
transistors)

(1206,1210,2512,3528
CN140
,5630)

XN22 (5050, SOP-8, SOIC)

XN40 (TQFP ICS)

XN75 (1 WATT LED)

Figure 2

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 1.2.1. Number of Feeders. The Neoden 4 can accommodate up to
forty-eight 8 mm tape-and-reel feeders on its left and right rails, and
any size feeder (8, 12, 16 and 24 mm) can be installed in any
combination or order on the left and right sides of the machine. The
electric feeders are inexpensive but sophisticated microprocessor-
controlled units paired will tape peelers. In addition, the vibration
feeder (included) can handle up to five separate tubes. The amount
of space available for tray-fed components and short tapes depends
on the available real estate on the table. Any area of the table may
be used for components awaiting placement, or for the board under
manufacture.

1.2.2. Component Thickness Limitations. When using tray-fed

and short-tape components, the maximum allowable component
height is 5 mm. When using tape-and-reel components, we
recommend a maximum thickness of 1.8 mm for reliable operation.

1.3. Rail System. Machines equipped with the auto-loading rail system
can accommodate boards from 15 mm to 270 mm in width, and 1500 mm
in length. Even when the rail system is installed, any space left over on the
table is still available for trays and short tapes. (The left rail can be moved
to accommodate wide boards by removing the left table extension. In this
case, a block of material should be affixed to the table base to raise the tray
or short tape to the approximate height of the extension). The rail system
allows automatic feeding of PCBs, automatic alignment of the board with
the camera, and automatic ejection from the front of the machine or the
rear. Rear-ejection is useful when the machine is connected to an optional
conveyor that can deliver the finished board directly to the reflow oven or
to another Neoden 4.

1.4. Vision System. The Neoden 4 features a high-precision, two-

camera vision system. The cameras are made by Micron Technology and
are precisely aligned to the nozzles using the single unified
configuration/operation application that loads on power-on.

1.4.1. The downward-looking camera on the head is used for

precision location of feeders and PCB placement points. The
downward-looking camera also verifies proper board placement
(and compensates for minor board-position inaccuracies) by auto-
aligning the nozzles to multiple fiducial points on the board before

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 beginning actual pick-and-place operations. Once the coordinates
are established, the semi-closed-loop stepper motors are able to
repeat these locations to 20 µm accuracy without further need for
this camera.

1.4.2. The upward-looking camera is located on the right side of the

machine. When enabled, this camera first ensures that a component
is attached to the proper nozzle. If the camera detects the absence of
a component, the machine will make up to two additional attempts
to pick a component before asking the user for further instructions.
Once a component has been verified as “picked,” the camera verifies
its position relative to the nozzle. Because SMDs are small and light,
and are held only loosely in their packaging, there can be a great deal
of variation in the actual position of the component when it arrives
in “pick” position and is lifted by the nozzle. The vision system
computes the difference between the ideal and actual position (both
X-Y and rotational), and then corrects for any error before precisely
placing the component. Because the vision system continually
corrects for even small errors in component position on the nozzle,
very fine-pitch components (down to 0201) can be placed with
repeatable accuracy once the correct coordinates are identified.

With these basic understandings, the following images reveal the basic
components of the Neoden 4:

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 Figure 3

Figure 4

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 SOFTWARE INTERFACE AND
HARDWARE SETUP
The entire operation of the Neoden 4 is controlled by a single application
that runs automatically after the operating system boots. Despite the
enormous flexibility of the machine, only 7 basic screens are needed to set
up feeders, calibrate the vision system and program pick-and-place
operations. This section contains a brief description of the various
commands and parameters in the screens. Section 5 contains a
recommended workflow to set up, program and operate the machine.

2. SYSTEM SETUP PAGE

Figure 5

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 2.1. The four tabs in this section allow full configuration and
calibration of the Neoden 4. While no calibration of the machine itself
is usually necessary after unboxing, configuration of the feeders and
peelers is critical to proper operation.

Figure 6

Machines purchased from NeodenUSA come with feeders preinstalled to

the buyer’s specifications. This manual also covers the steps needed to add
or reconfigure additional feeders. When setting up a new machine and
loading feeders with components, be prepared to spend some time in this
interface.

2.1.1. Five buttons on the right side of the screen are common to all
four tabs of the System setup page.

Figure 7

2.1.2. “Save” saves any changes to configuration to the internal SSD.

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 2.1.3. “Config pwd” is only used on the “System configuration” tab.
Pressing this Button and then pressing “OK” (with no password
entered) allows access to the nozzle alignment functions and other
settings. Normally, there is no need for a user to enter these
functions.

2.1.4. “Modify Feeder ID” allows the user to change any feeder’s
software ID to any value.

2.1.5. “Software Upgrade” will enable the user to upgrade the

system software to the newest version when a new file is available
on the USB drive.

2.1.6. “Chinese” changes the system language to Chinese. DO

NOT PRESS THIS BUTTON. To restore the language to English, a
unique password must be generated at the factory for each unique
motherboard.

2.2. FEEDER AND PEELER INSTALLATION

Figure 8

2.2.1. Feeders and peelers are easy to install but working in the area
of the feeder reels becomes difficult when components are installed
in adjacent feeders. Machines purchased from NeodenUSA come
equipped with all feeders in the owner’s order pre-installed. But if
additional feeders are selected before setup we strongly recommend
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 installing them according to the procedures below before attempting
any configuration. The process of installing new feeders is easier
when there are no reels loaded nearby.

2.2.2. The feeders are installed on the lower rails, and the peelers are
installed on the upper rails. Each is attached with a single Allen
screw, and connected with a single cable. The feeders are connected
with 4-pin cables and are addressed digitally over a data bus. It
therefore does not matter which feeder is plugged into which port—
the feeder ID code determines which feeder will be activated. On
the other hand, peelers are addressed with analog power signals.
Therefore, activation of a peeler depends entirely on the 2-pin port
to which it is connected. The software interface allows the user to
assign different combinations of peeler and feeder IDs when it is
desired to use a feeder with a certain ID in a position that
corresponds to a different peeler ID.

Figure 9

2.2.3. When installing new feeders, it is necessary to assign it an ID

using the “Modify Feed ID” button. New feeders come with an
assigned ID of 50, which cannot be used in pick-and-place
operations. By using the “Modify Feed ID” button, any feeder ID
can be changed to any other ID. This is a powerful tool, and can

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 quickly create confusion if not used carefully. For this reason, we
recommend the following steps be followed without variation or
exception:

1) install a single feeder;

2) change its ID (usually from 50) to the intended value;
3) calibrate the feeder and verify its intended operation;
4) install the related peeler;
5) test the peeler;
6) test the feeder-peeler in combination;
7) proceed to the next feeder.
Important: Install feeders and set their ID codes one at a time. Please do
not attempt to set ID codes with more than one unassigned feeder plugged
into the machine!

2.2.3.1. Physical installation of feeders:

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 Figure 10

1) Using a short 3 mm Allen wrench (supplied in the toolkit

included with every machine), loosen the bolt in back of
the feeder a few turns.

2) Select a data port for the feeder. Plug the 4-pin connector
into the port (the side of the connector with visible pin
detents faces up).

3) Place the feeder on the lower rail (feeders can be placed

touching each other).

4) Tighten the Allen screw until snug (do not overtighten).

5) In the System Setup Interface (on any of the four screens),

press the Modify Feed ID button. Using the menus, change
Feeder ID 50 to the desired ID. The interface should report
that the ID was successfully changed.

6) If the interface reports that the change failed, check for the
following:

ü Feeder is not plugged in correctly.

ü Feeder ID was not set to 50 when installed. Proceed to

the Feeder Configuration page, and test various feeder
IDs to activate the feeder. If the feeder was installed so
that it inadvertently shares an ID with another feeder,
both will activate.

ü If the feeder has a unique ID other than 50, change it to

the desired value.

ü If the feeder shares an ID, unplug one of the feeders.

This will enable the change of ID on a single feeder.

ü Once satisfied that the new feeder has been assigned the
correct ID, go to the Feeder Configuration page, and

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 press “calibrate feeder.” The feeder should run
continuously for several seconds. Repeat this step to
verify smooth operation of the feeder.

2.2.3.2. Physical installation of peelers:

Figure 11

1) Using a short 3 mm Allen wrench, loosen the bolt in back

of the peeler a few turns.

2) Plug the 2-pin connector into a numbered power port (the

side of the connector with visible pin detents faces up).

3) Place the peeler on the upper rail (peelers can be placed

touching each other).

4) Line up the peeler so that it is parallel with the tape path in

the feeder.

5) Tighten the Allen screw until snug (do not overtighten).

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 6) Go to the Peeler Configuration page, and press Click to
Test. The peeler gears should turn, and the peeler motor
should be audible.

7) If both feeder and peeler tests are successful, proceed to the

SMD Configuration page.

2.3. SMD CONFIGURATION PAGE

Figure 12

2.3.1. This page contains the master configuration settings for the
feeder/peeler combinations. Use this page for the electric feeders
(1-48). It is not necessary for the special feeders (49-98). Following
is a description of the data displays and functions of the screen.

2.3.2. For each feeder, the X-Y coordinates of the component

location are listed. These coordinates should be set by pressing the
“Click to align” button to center the crosshairs in the pocket in the
tape, not necessarily the center of the component. This is because
components shift significantly in the tape, and any errors in
component positioning can be corrected by the upward-looking
camera during pick-and-place operations.

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 2.3.3. The “Feeder” and “Peeler” columns contain dropdown
menus that allow the user to assign any combination of feeder and
peeler to serve as the numbered feeder indicated in the leftmost
column. By default, the Feeder and Peeler numbers are set to the
same values.

2.3.4. The “Click to test” button activates both the feeder and peeler
assigned to the numbered feeder, and each will advance according
to the parameters defined in the Feeder Configuration and Peeler
Configuration pages.

2.4. FEEDER CONFIGURATION PAGE

Figure 13

2.4.1. Feeding Rate. For each feeder, this dropdown menu allows
the user to set the distance in mm that the feeder advances. For 0402
and 0201 components, this value is normally set at 2. For
components including 0603, 0805 and 1206, the value is normally set
at 4. Certain larger components will require larger values.

2.4.2. Strength. Determines the torque applied to the component

tape. Values from 50-80 are common, but the value should be
adjusted so that the tape feeds consistently and smoothly.

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 2.4.3. Test. Clicking “Test” for any feeder on this screen will
advance the feeder (but not the peeler) by the distance set in the
Feeding rate column.

2.4.4. Calibration. “Click to calibrate” advances the feeder

continuously for several seconds. This function verifies the smooth
operation of the feeder motor and transmission. Because the feeder
advances quite far, it is best to avoid clicking this button when
components are present in the feeder. The button can be useful if
needed to exhaust a long section of leader that contains no
components.

2.5. PEELER CONFIGURATION PAGE

Figure 14

2.5.1. “Feeding rate” determines the approximate distance that the

peeler will attempt to peel the cover tape. The default value for this
setting is 16, and there is often no need to reduce it the distance that
the feeder advances. The cover tape normally can slip inside the
moving gears of the peeler, and a larger peeling distance helps keep
the cover tape taut and out of the way of the components that have
advanced into the pick position inside the feeder.
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 2.5.2. “Strength” adjust the power applied to the motor in each
peeler. Smaller values (e.g., 50) result in quieter operation, and are
often adequate for smooth peeling.

2.5.3. “Test” activates the peeler (but not its associated feeder). This
function, when activated, should leave the cover tape stretched
tightly between the feeder and peeler, with no loose tape slop over
the components to be fed. If the cover tape does not advance when
the peeler is activated, check the installation. For proper operation,
the tape must lie flat between the peeler gears; it must not be
wrinkled, stretched to deformity or twisted. The tape also must not
be installed so that any part lies outside the width of the gears. Tapes
with long leaders make peeler installation much easier.

2.6. SYSTEM CONFIGURATION PAGE

Figure 15

2.6.1. When used in combination with the “Config pwd” button,

this page allows the user to set the machine’s default movement
speed, the frequency and strength of the vibration feeders, and
brightness of the camera lighting systems. Default values normally
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 require no change. The interface also contains sophisticated nozzle
alignment routines. Because these are set at the factory, there is
normally no need to access them and any use of these functions
should be done in cooperation with NeodenUSA tech support.

3. INSTALLING SMT COMPONENTS

Three basic component setups are possible: (1) Electric tape and reel
feeding (2) Tube feeding and (3) tray/short tape feeding. This section will
cover the physical setup of each type of component. Software setup of the
various feeder types is covered in Section 4.

3.1. Installing tape and reel components.

(1) Lift the angled tab on the feeder, and insert the tape so the
sprocket holes rest on the tooth of the gear.

(2) Pull the end of the cover tape through the large feeding slot
in the feeder, over the brass block.

(3) Allow the spring to pull the feeder cover over the tape.

(4) Lift the silver tab on the peeler to separate the gears.

(5) Thread the cover tape through the slot on the angled tab,
and through the gears on the peeler until the tape extends
through the back slot of the peeler. If the tape does not extend
through the whole peeler before the gears are closed, it will
likely jam.

(6) Allow the spring in the peeler to close the plastic feeding
gears.

Figure 16 illustrates the proper installation of tape feeders.

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 Figure 16

3.2. Installing tube-fed components. Install the tube feeder guide. This
polished steel guide is included with the machine and bolts to the table
with two Allen screws (included).

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 Figure 17

Screw the round horizontal tube guides into the plate as shown. These
round guides will hold pressure on the tube to maintain a good feeding
angle and prevent movement.

Adjust the width of the black vibration feeder guides as necessary for each
tube. If the tubes hold very small components, it may be beneficial to use
tape to cover the front slots between the black guides.

3.3. Installing trays and short tapes. Trays and short tapes can be placed
anywhere on the table that is not in the space or path required by the board.
If the width of the rail setting necessitates removal of the left steel table
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extension (See Figure 3), first install a piece of metal or plastic sufficient to
raise the height of the table to roughly the height of the extension. If the
table extension is installed, simply affix the tray or tape to the extension
using double-sided tape or any other suitable method. It is important that
the components be placed in a reasonably straight horizontal or vertical
orientation, and that the tray or tape is placed flat to avoid variations in
pick height.

Figure 4 shows an example of a simple short tape/tray configuration.

4. MANUAL TEST PAGE

Figure 18

4.1. The second tab at the top of the interface opens the manual test
screen. This screen contains a convenient selection of tools to verify the
operational status of most components of the Neoden 4. Most functions of
the manual test screen can also be accessed from other areas of the
interface.

4.2. Feeder/Peeler. Arranged on the left and right sides of the screen are
feeder and peeler IDs that correspond graphically to a typical arrangement
of feeders on the Neoden 4. Clicking on any feeder or peeler will activate
the assigned feeder/peeler combination (assuming, of course that a unit is
configured and connected for the ID clicked). Use these tests
conservatively when parts are loaded, because the feeder will advance,
and a component will be ejected from the tape.

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4.3. Placement Head. This section contains tools to verify the proper
operation of the head, head movement system and nozzles. To use these
tools, first select the nozzle of interest.

4.3.1. The “Blow” button will release a brief jet of air from the
selected nozzle. Place a finger under the nozzle to verify operation.
A small increase in positive value should appear on the screen.

4.3.2. The “Suck” button will engage vacuum for the selected
nozzle. Place a finger over the nozzle to block airflow, and press the
button. If the unit is operating correctly, you will feel the vacuum,
and the “pressure” indicator will change from a positive to a
significant negative value while vacuum is present.

4.3.3. The “Turn left” and “Turn right” buttons activate the
rotational axis of the selected nozzle. Because rotation of the smooth
black nozzles is difficult to observe, it is easiest to verify function by
watching the motion of the vacuum tubes at the top of the head.

4.3.4. The “Nozzle Down” button will lower the selected nozzle by
the full 12 mm travel. Releasing the button causes the nozzle to
return to its upper position.

4.3.5. The “Flash” button activates the lighting for the downward-
looking camera. Press once for the inner lights, again for the outer
lights, again for both, and a fourth press will turn the lights off.

4.3.6. The “Photograph” button verifies operation of the

downward-looking camera by moving the head back and displaying
a photograph of the table.

4.3.7. The “Move Head” button allows repositioning of the head in

three ways.

4.3.7.1. By using the “Visual field” method, the head can be

moved precisely by clicking on the portion of the screen relative
to the center crosshairs, which indicate the current position of
the camera. Because of the extreme closeup vision of the
camera, only small moves are possible with each click.

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 4.3.7.2. With the “Mouse Vectors” setting, the screen turns
grey, and represents the entire area of movement possible over
the table. Clicking in any region of the screen allows rapid,
coarse movement of the head. This can be convenient for
speeding alignment, as well as for moving the head to a more
convenient general location for the task being performed.

4.3.7.3. The ”Keyboard Jog” method allows movement in of

the head along the X-Y axes in .1 mm increments. Additional
keyboard controls are noted on the screen. To exit this mode,
press the Escape key.

4.3.8. Z Axis. When in an alignment screen, the default “camera”

setting allows the visual check of X-Y coordinates. But the selection
of one of the nozzles as an alignment method allows the manual
extension of the nozzle along its 12 mm Z-axis travel. This feature is
useful not only to verify operation of the Z-axis motor, but to
determine the best values for “pick height” and “place height” in the
feeder settings of a P&P program.

4.3.9. In addition, when using feeders too far back for the camera to
align, (e.g., usually 17-19 on the right-hand side) this method allows
the user to position a nozzle and test to ensure that it descends onto
the component in the feeder. While this method is less convenient
that camera alignment, it allows the user to make the greatest use
possible of the available table real estate by installing additional
feeders.

4.3.10.The “Rail Control” button allows a simple means of moving

the rail system forward and backward to verify operation.

4.4. In the “Host Control” section, seven controls complete the manual
test interface.

4.4.1. The “Flash” button activates the lighting system for the
upward-looking camera. A second press turns off the lights.

4.4.2. The “Image” button verifies operation of the upward-looking

camera by displaying an image on the screen. Because the camera
focus is set to take very sharp pictures of the nozzles and any

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 components they are carrying, pressing this button may produce
only a blurry image unless an object (like the head) is present over
the camera at the correct height. Pressing “Cancel” returns the user
to the main screen. (The Lens Rotation and Save buttons are used
for nozzle alignment purposes, and perform no valuable function in
the Manual Test context).

4.4.3. The “Feed Command” activates the rail system for those units
so equipped.

4.4.4. The “Buzzer” button sounds the internal warning tone for as
long as it is pressed.

4.4.5. The “Clear X-Y” button should only be used to correct an

error condition displayed in the “XX Status” annunciator position.
When the status reads “Idle,” the system is functioning normally
and there is no need to use this button.

4.4.6. The “Home” button causes the X-Y drives to return the head
to the machine’s home position, and reset the X-Y geometry based
on the physical limit switches in the unit. Use this button to verify
operation of the limit switches, and also to restore the home position
in the event of an accidental head crash into an object inadvertently
left on the table.

4.4.7. The “Vibration feeder” check-box will activate the vibration

feeder motor when checked. Leave the box unchecked except for
this brief test.

5. P&P PROGRAMMING PAGE

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 Figure 19

This screen contains a list of available programs stored in the internal SSD,
and is the screen from which production operations are launched. The
Neoden 4 is shipped with several factory test programs installed, and these
can either be kept, deleted or stored separately on an external USB drive
for later use.

Available commands on this screen include:

5.1.1. Export to U Disk. This command will copy the program file
selected on the main screen to a USB drive inserted into any of the
four USB ports on the machine. It is recommended that files on the
SSD be backed up to a USB drive.

5.1.2. Import from U Disk. This command will copy a program

from an external USB drive to the Neoden 4 and store it on the
internal SSD. Programs are run from the internal SSD only.

5.1.3. Delete. This command will permanently delete the selected

program file from the internal SSD.

5.1.4. Copy. This command will copy the selected program file,
allow the entry of a name for the copied file, and store it on the

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 internal SSD. The command is useful for creating alternative
versions of programs.

5.1.5. New. Creates a new, blank program file.

5.1.6. Edit. This command opens the main programming interface

for the machine. All parameters needed to complete a finished
board are entered in the two screens of this interface. A detailed
discussion is contained in Section 6.

5.1.7. Mount. This command loads a program from the internal

SSD in preparation for automatic or stepped operation.

6. P&P PROGRAMMING EDIT FUNCTION

Figure 20

This screen is the heart of the programming interface. It has two tabs: “PCB
Information” and “Feeder Settings.” In the following sections, this manual
will describe each of the functions on the two pages. Finally, it will
recommend some basic procedures for programming the machine to
manufacture finished boards.

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6.1. PCB INFORMATION PAGE
6.1.1. PCB Feed Settings. This section determines the manner in
which the PCBs will be sent to the machine for pick-and-place
operations. On machines with the rail system installed, the “Mag
fixture,” “Rail Single,” and “Rail Multi” are available. On machines
without the rail system, always select “Mag Fixture.”

Figure 21

6.1.2. Mag Fixture. This option assumes that the user will place the
board in a location determined by the placement of the magnetic
fixture blocks (supplied) on the table. This is a simple and reliable
system, but the accuracy of a program depends upon the magnetic
fixtures being installed to ensure that the placement of the board is
essentially the exact placement that existed at the time the program
was created.

TIP: Users relying on the magnetic fixtures for several different

boards should place fixtures on the table to ensure that the lower left
corner remains in the same place for all boards. This will ensure that
the origin of each board remains constant with respect to the machine
coordinates. The remaining fixtures can then be varied to ensure
stable placement of different-size boards.

6.1.3. Rail Single. This option is the most frequently used on

machines equipped with the rail system. Checking this box will
cause the machine to feed a single board (or panelized board) to the
appropriate location and then commence fiducial recognition and
component placement.

6.1.4. Rail Multi. This option is used when boards (or panels)
longer than the machine table are to be populated. In this mode, the
machine will place components between the first set of fiducials,
then advance the board automatically to place components between
the next set of fiducials, and so on.
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 6.1.5. Front Eject. When this box is ticked, the rail system will eject
the PCB from the machine toward the front when the program has
completed running.

6.1.6. “Forward” and “Backward.” These buttons manually move

the PCB within the rail system. When setting up a new program,
use these buttons to move the PCB to a suitable position for
placement operations. Follow the instructions to complete the
program without moving the board until the program is completed,
verified and saved.

6.1.7. “Align.” This button activates the camera. Once a board has
been placed in the desired location using the “Forward” and
“Backward” buttons, press “Align.” Move the head so that the
crosshairs are centered on the leading edge of the board. The X-Y
coordinates of the aligned location will be displayed in the “Detect
X” and “Detect Y” fields. Though the user can enter values
manually to change the feed location, this should rarely be
necessary.

TIP: When running a program, the board will advance slightly

farther than the edge identified with the “Align” command. This is
normal, and the machine will proceed to recognize fiducials to
properly place components.

6.1.8. “Feed.” Unlike the “Forward” button, “Feed” will

automatically advance the board to the position identified with the
“Align” command. It is not necessary to use this feature in normal
operations. However, if a PCB is moved before programming is
completed, verified and saved, this feature can be useful in restoring
the board to its proper position.

6.1.9. Panelized PCB Origin. A fundamental principle of the

Neoden 4 software is that the origin of a file is the X-Y coordinates
of the first component to be placed (expressed as absolute machine
coordinates). Even when single (not panelized) boards are being
produced, the machine treats the board as a part of a panel (with one
row and one column equaling one board). Therefore, the X-Y
coordinates of the first component must be entered in the Left Bottom

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 X-Y fields. Components entered in the component list must identify
the locations of components on the left bottom PCB in a panel. A
single PCB will be treated as if it is the left bottom board in a panel.

Figure 23

For a single board, leave the number of rows and columns set at “1.” For
a panel of multiple boards, enter the number of rows and column in the
drop-down menus.

If the number of columns and rows is greater than 1, the machine will then
require entry of coordinates for the first part as it appears under the camera
for the right top and left top panels. With these values, the machine can
extrapolate the size of the panels and compute the location of every
component on each panel.

6.1.10. Create Panelized List. This button automatically

creates component lists and their coordinates for each board in a
panel (or for a single board) based upon the number of columns and
rows entered for the panel in the Panelized PCB Origin field(s).

6.1.11. Fiducial Settings. Fiducials are circular marks (1 mm

diameter works well), which are either silkscreened on the board or
etched. These marks should be easily visible with high contrast, so
the machine can easily locate and center them when running a

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 program. Each board should have at least two fiducial marks,
preferably on opposite corners.

Figure 24

In this section, first select “Manual,” “Panelized,” or “Single.” For almost

all situations, “Single” is best. This setting will allow the machine to
recognize and correct for fiducial locations automatically. The
“Panelized” option will force the machine to recognize every fiducial on
an entire panel before beginning pick-and-place operations. While not
detrimental to the process, this is more time consuming than necessary for
accurate operation. The “Manual” is reserved for boards that lack fiducial
marks that can readily be recognized by the machine. Selecting “Manual”
will require the user to manually recognize substitute marks on the board
before the machine will proceed to place components.

With the board in its final intended location in the rail system or on the
magnetic fixtures, click “New” to add a fiducial to the list. Then press
“Align” to locate the fiducial with the camera. Finally, press “Auto
Align” to locate the center of the fiducial precisely. Save the value and
repeat the process to add the second fiducial.

6.1.12.Component List. The component list is the heart of the pick-

and-place program. It contains the location and rotation of every
component, along with other identifying information about the
components. There are two ways to create this list:

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 Figure 25

6.1.12.1. File Import. This is the simplest method to create

a map of placement locations and angles for your board. This
method will quickly create a valid component list from a .CSV
file, as long as the coordinates in the file are computed with reference
to the location of the first component in the list. In other words,
before generating and exporting the .CSV file, the PCB design
software must be supplied with the location of the first
component in the list as determined by the Neoden 4 camera
with the board in place. The appropriate export routine will
compute the coordinates of the remaining components relative
to this user-supplied origin point.

Coordinates must be specified in millimeters, to two-decimal

precision. Export routines for the Neoden 4 are available for
popular PCB design software, including Eagle and Altium. To
use this feature, insert a USB drive containing the exported
.CSV file into any port on the Neoden 4, and press Import (with
the “manual” box unchecked). The system will locate available

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 .csv files in on the USB drive, and clicking “Save” after selecting
a file will import the list.

To edit the list after import, check the “Manual” box. This
allows the user to check and correct individual components
with the camera by pressing “Align.”

6.1.12.2. Change to current position. This is a powerful

feature that will change the coordinates of the entire component
list if the board is placed in a different position on the table than
the position that was used to compute the original origin. To
use this feature, locate the first fiducial with the camera. Press
“Cancel,” and press “Change to current position.”

The machine will locate both fiducials and compute the offset
from the original program. It will then change the values in the
component list to conform to the new board location. After this
process is complete, it is necessary to ensure that the new
coordinates for the first component are entered in the “Left
Bottom” location, and that the “Create Panelized List” button
is pressed so that the X-Y coordinates of the first component
appear in all three locations on the screen.

6.1.12.3. “New,” “Delete,” “Up,” and “Down.” When the

“Manual” box is checked, these buttons allow modification of
the component list. The user can create additional components
using the “New” button, remove components using the
“Delete” button, or reorder components with the “Up” and
“Down” Buttons.

The reordering of components can dramatically increase the

speed of pick-and-place operations by ordering the components
to provide for sequential use of nozzles and pickup of
components in feeders located in close proximity to one
another. When running the program, the Neoden 4 will pick
components in the order they appear in the list. If four
components arranged sequentially in the list use four different
nozzles, then the machine will pick up all four components
before returning to the PCB to place them, yielding significant
speed advantages. On the other hand, if components are

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 arranged so that several components in a sequence use the same
nozzle, the machine will pick a component, verify its position
and place it before proceeding to the next component. This
arrangement will work, but with a significant efficiency
penalty. Skillful users will optimize the component list to
group the use of different nozzles together.

6.2. FEEDER SETTINGS SCREEN

Figure 26

6.2.1. The Feeder settings screen is critical to the successful

operation of any program. Setting the many parameters on this
screen for each feeder is the most time-consuming part of preparing
the Neoden 4 for production, but careful attention to detail in this
section will assure trouble-free operation and the best results in the
finished boards.

TIP: Though the Neoden 4 will work without precise data in the
Value and Footprint fields, several powerful automatic functions
that can greatly speed programming require that each instance of

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 the same component in the component list contain identical entries
in the Value and Footprint fields.

6.2.2. Feeder Layout. One of the important functions of the Feeder

Settings screen is the assignment of discrete components to
individually-numbered feeders. This can be accomplished
manually or automatically. The Neoden 4 supports programs with
components placed randomly in feeders all over the machine. While
random placement works, it is always not the most efficient means
of programming the machine.

If components are assigned in the order in which the first appear in

the component list, automatic assignment is possible. In other
words, if the first component in the list physically resides on Feeder
1, the next different component in Feeder 2, etc., then the user need
only press “Assign All Sequentially.” Each feeder will then be
assigned the appropriate value and footprint.

In many cases, however, components will be installed without

regard to their relative position in the component list. In that event,
the user should first click on the dropdown menus next to each
feeder and select the component that corresponds to that feeder.
(The contents of the dropdown menus are derived from the data in
the component list).

6.2.3. Feeder Basic Information. To edit information for each

feeder, first check “Apply.” Next, press “Align” in the Feeder Basic
Information section. This will move the camera to the location of the
components in the feeder. As in Section 2.3.2, center the crosshairs
in the hole in the tape where components sit – not the center of any
given component. Using this method, the Neoden 4 will be able to
use any of its four nozzles to pick parts from the feeder.

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 Figure 27

NOTE: For feeders installed in the far back of the machine (often
feeders 18 and 19 on the left side) the camera, which is mounted on
the front of the head, will not be able to be moved far enough to
view the necessary location. For these feeders, after clicking
“Align,” select the desired nozzle as the “Alignment method” on
the right side of the screen. Then use the mouse to move the nozzle
to the desired pick location, and slowly pull the vertical slider down
to lower the nozzle. Continue to fine-tune the location of the nozzle
until it is centered in the hole in the tape. Click “Save.”

6.2.4. After aligning the feeder (or nozzle) to the camera, ensure that
the remaining data in the Feeder basic information section is correct.

6.2.4.1. The Pick Angle setting normally does not need to be

changed because the machine automatically sets this value
based on the feeder’s location on the left or right rail. For trays
and sort tapes, however, this value may need to be changed to
0 or 180.

6.2.4.2. The Footprint setting should contain the footprint of the

component in the feeder. If the correct size is not in the menu,
it is possible to create new footprints by entering the footprint
library.

6.2.4.3. The Vision Alignment setting is normally set at

“Individual.” This setting directs the Neoden 4 to transport
each “picked” component to the upward-looking camera to
ensure that a component is attached to the nozzle and analyze

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 its position to compensate for X-Y and rotational errors before
traveling to place the component on the board. For large ICs,
choose “large component” in this field.

6.2.4.4. The Vacuum Discard function should be left

unchecked. This feature measures the vacuum level at the
nozzle after a part is picked up, and discards the component if
the vacuum is insufficient. Though faster than the camera, this
feature is less accurate and can result in wasted parts. We
therefore do not recommend its use except in special
circumstances.

6.2.4.5. The Pick Height setting is critical to reliable operation.

The nozzles offer 12 mm of total downward travel from their
resting position in the head. The value entered in this field
represents the distance in millimeters from the maximum
extension. Therefore, smaller values indicate greater
downward travel. The best way to choose this value is to press
“Align,” ensure the camera is properly centered over a
component, and then select an appropriate nozzle as the
alignment method. Drag the vertical slider down until the
nozzle gently touches the component, and note the value
shown—this is the value to be entered in the “pick height”
field. Should you notice repeated failures to pick a part, the
pick height may need to be reduced.

6.2.4.6. The Pick Delay and Place Delay settings allow a short
pause after a nozzle comes into contact with a part, and before
it leaves contact. This small pause allows for stable vacuum and
cessation of any vibration from the rapid movement of the head
that might cause imprecise placement. We recommend
entering a value from 100-300 in these two fields for every
feeder.

6.2.4.7. The Place Height setting determines the extension of

the nozzle when the component is released into the solder
paste. Proper setting of this parameter is important to protect
components and nozzles, and to ensure accurate placement.
We recommend the following procedure:

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 1) Mount a PCB in the rails or magnetic fixtures.

2) In the “Nozzle Information” area, check the nozzle (or

nozzles) appropriate for the component in the feeder.

3) Press “Pick.”

4) The Head will move to the feeder and the designated

nozzle will pick up a part. Verify visually that a part is
attached to the nozzle.

5) Go to the PCB Information page, and click “Align” on any

component. Select the nozzle holding the picked
component as the Alignment Method. The component
should now be held by the nozzle, suspended above the
PCB.

6) Slide the vertical slider down slowly until the component

barely makes contact with the PCB—usually, you will hear
a small click when the component touches down.

7) Note the value shown by the slider display and enter it in

the Place Height field.

6.2.4.8. The Move Speed setting has a default value of 100. This
is a very fast setting, and users are advised to start with a slower
setting, e.g., 70 for each feeder to verify proper operation of a
program. Once satisfied with the program and its accuracy,
faster settings may be attempted. For very large components,
start with a much slower setting, e.g., 30.

6.2.5. Nozzle Information. For each feeder, check the nozzle(s) that
are sized appropriately for the component installed in the feeder.
We recommend leaving the threshold settings at their default
values, because the vacuum detection feature to which these settings
relate is rarely needed or used when the vision system is active.

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 Figure 28

6.2.5.1. The Align button will move the selected nozzle over the
component in the feeder.

6.2.5.2. The Height button will drop the nozzle down to the
assigned pick height, without picking up a part.

6.2.5.3. The Pick button will move the head to the necessary
location and pick up a part. After this feature is activated, the
part should be removed from the nozzle with a finger or
tweezers. Remember to load a new part by clicking “Feed.”

7. FINAL PROGRAMMING STEPS

7.1. After completing the setup of each feeder, it is time to assign

components to feeders and nozzles in the component list. The simplest
way to do this is to press “Assign Feeder and Nozzle” in the Feeder
Settings screen. If all values are correctly and consistently entered in the
component list, and appropriate nozzles have been enabled in the Feeder
Settings interface, the Neoden 4 will automatically select the appropriate
feeder and nozzle for each component in the component list.

Figure 29

7.2. If the data in the component list contains inconsistencies, omissions

or small errors, the program will still work, but the automatic assignment

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feature will not. In such cases, the user can manually enter the desired
feeder and nozzle for each component.

7.3. Save the program and you’re ready to run!

8. RUNNING THE PROGRAM

Figure 30

8.1. On the pick-and-place programming page, select the program you

wish to run and press “Mount.”

8.2. If the vibration feeders are needed, activate them with the checkbox.

8.3. Place a PCB on the magnetic fixtures or load one into the rail system
so that the PCB is in snug contact with the guide belts.

8.4. There are two ways to run a program: Step Mode and Continuous
Mode. Pressing “Step” will cause the Neoden 4 to execute the program
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one move at a time. This can be helpful in troubleshooting or double-
checking the integrity of a program before letting the machine run free.
Pressing “Continuous” will cause the program to run on its own. The
Neoden 4 will first check each nozzle called for by the program. It will the
locate the fiducials on the board and begin placement operations.

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