The need for automated optical inspection systems

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Mek Marantz Electronics
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THE NEED FOR AUTOMATED OPTICAL INSPECTION SYSTEMS
This article discusses the basics and need for
automated optical inspection or AOI. AOI is a
major technique that is used in the manufacture
test of electronics PCBs. Automatic optical
inspection systems enable fast accurate
inspection of assemblies (electronics), in
particular PCBs in order to ensure the quality of
the product leaving the production line appears
to be high and the goods are built correctly
without any manufacturing faults. Basics of
AOI Automatic optical inspection machines or
systems use several visual methods for monitoring
PCBs for defects. They can detect a range of
surface feature defects like nodules, stains and
scratches as well as more familiar dimensional
defects including shorts, open circuits, and
solder thinning. Moreover, they can detect
incorrect parts, missing components incorrectly
placed components. They can perform all visual
checks done previously by manual operators, far
more quickly and accurately!
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Why AOI? In spite of the key improvements which
have been made, the modern circuits are more
complicated compared to boards (in use a few
years ago). Introduction of the surface mount
technology subsequent reductions in size do
mean that boards are especially compact. Even
comparatively average boards possess thousands of
soldered joints these are where exactly most of
the problems are seen. Well, this increase in
complexity of boards means that manual inspection
doesnt look like a viable option as well these
days. It was not very effective because
inspectors became tired soon they missed poor
and incorrect construction easily. The
marketplace now in need of high volume, high
quality products are in demand and fast methods
are required to ascertain that product quality
stays high. AOI is a great tool in integrated
electronics test strategy which ensure prices are
kept as minimum as possible by means of detecting
faults much earlier in the production line.
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One main solution to this, of course, is using
automated optical inspection systems. These
systems can be positioned into the production
line following the solder process. This way, they
can be employed to detect problems early. Of
course, this comes with a number of
benefits. Process problems pertaining to the
solder assembly area can be detected early in
the process of production and information can be
used to give feedback quickly at the earlier
stages. This way, a rapid response ensures that
issues are recognized much quickly and also
rectified before a lot more boards get built with
the same fault or problem. For offline of
inspection machines, resort to Marantz
Electronics.