LitePlacer.com forums

Another 3d printed tray:

https://www.youmagine.com/designs/smd-t ... m-20-times

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pocket size: 4.2 x 5.7 x 1.5 mm
Fits 20 pin UQFN, DO214, PSON 8 ...

Complete tray is 2.5mm high.

How much does something like this cost to get printed? Where can someone get this printed that doesn't have a printer?

I finally got my machine running and I am going crazy trying to fight this double-sided tape. It is around 45F in my workplace right now and the plastic tapes just don't stick to it. I have tried a few homemade solutions, but nothing is working out that great. I would love to have something a bit more sturdy like your tape holder.

Well,

Nice looking, but from my experience it is hard to get best fit with 3D printed objects - I have moved to either machining or laser cutting.
No matter what I was unable to bet below 0.1mm accuracy. So good enough for 0603 size, but unlikely or smaller ones.

Since I use paper tape it does not matter. The paper just forms to the plastic

I've only just seen the topic but I also have created a 3D printed jig. I don't often go down below 0805 in size apart from ICs so not had too much trouble with them so far.

Here is my design for 8mm and 12mm SMD tapes. 12mm tapes at the top and 8mm tapes at the bottom. Alignment with the LitePlacer is spot on.
If you want a 3D printer then I got mind from RepRapPro, its in kit form like the LitePlacer but its very cost effective and works reliably. Had my tri-colour Mendel in operation about 3 years now.

I want to do more work on this but I might eventually start selling the holders on eBay, the plastic itself is very cheap so it's mainly down to time and effort. Each holder takes about 3-4 hours to print.

I really like the option for the tapes to have trays in the LitePlacer software. This means I can hopefully create fixed trays and then simply swap out the trays to make the board I want.

Other sizes of holders are in the pipeline.

First tests seems ok I can move from component 1 to component 35 on each strip without any issues. Component 35 is about the length of the holder.
If you want one of these holders then please let me know.

I have a few pnp jobs coming up. Would be great to use these as mine only support tape components. Diodes and the like have to be put in trays.
Would be nice if you could upload the design somewhere.

assasinsareus wrote:First tests seems ok I can move from component 1 to component 35 on each strip without any issues.

Well, positioning should not be an issue once using camera ( well, it would not work blindly, these paper tapes tend to stretch a bit).
But have you actually tried to pick components from trays ? The biggest challenge is to avoid "jumping" components when the needle takes adjacent ones.
This was the case happening in my machine ( not a Liteplacer )

The biggest challenge is to avoid "jumping" components when the needle takes adjacent ones.

Yep in the tests so far I have been able to pick up and place back down without disturbing neighboring components. Though I have not done a full run yet. Waiting on PCBs to arrive.

I'll get the 3D file shared onto Thingiverse when I get a minute.

For now anyone without a 3D printer can get hold of them via my eBay

8mm & 12mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283209214795

16mm & 24mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283464958568

24mm, 32mm & 44mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283627366907