Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1202019
66 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2020 are going to get corroded pretty quickly, so you can't just connect it directly. It's sort of wish- ful thinking, but nobody does that in practice. Therefore, I believe that the term "inline AOI" could be misleading. Matties: As we move into a digital factory, it seems to me that if we're moving into a lot size of one, that is going to become something that might turn into a demand. You're also a key supplier at GreenSource Fabrication. Kaplan: That's true. GreenSource is a unique case, at least for now, where all the systems are connected in one production line. All of our AOI machines work in the same line, but the panel doesn't go directly through the scanner like in the pure "inline AOI" concept I mentioned ear- lier. That would be very hard to achieve given synchronization challenges between different types of equipment and processes. We have a smart automation setup that allows Green- Source to achieve smooth flow using traditional table-based AOI. Basically, automation takes a panel, loads it directly on AOI or in some type of buffer, and then puts it back on the conveyor after the scan is completed. Matties: It's still a continuous flow inspection process. Kaplan: Exactly. Matties: You don't have to wait for a panel of boards to show up because I believe your whole system is fully automated there. Let's talk a little bit about the GreenSource install. What did you learn from that, and what are you taking to the marketplace from the action? Kaplan: We've learned a lot based on the de- mand. One of the key points is that they use our metrology to feed back and improve their process for quality control. This is something that we have been offering to the market for a few years now. It's a built-in option that comes with our high-end systems. We have 2D and 3D metrology. As far as I know, GreenSource uses both, and it's all inline. Matties: What's the advantage of having that option in the system? Kaplan: My understanding is that by taking those kinds of measurements in real time, they can feed it back to the previous process and adjust some process upstream. I'm not sure how they use the data exactly. Matties: I understand, but it's an option. Are any other companies taking advantage of that option? Kaplan: Absolutely. It's another hot topic, and we've been ahead of the market in this area. We launched our metrology options already a few years ago. At the very beginning, nobody cared that much about measurements; right now, it's becoming almost a must, and we already have it for a few years now. Since we've been refining those capabilities way be- fore the real market demand has materialized, those capabilities are now very mature. We're running them in many companies, and they love it. Matties: Is this an upgrade option that some- body can add to the existing equipment? Kaplan: Yes, they're called add-on options. Matties: It sounds like you have brought in some flexible thinking in the way that you're presenting your equipment to the marketplace, where they can upgrade the verification sys- tem and these systems along the way. Kaplan: That's our philosophy. All our systems are upgradable. We realize that sometimes We have a smart automation setup that allows GreenSource to achieve smooth flow using traditional table-based AOI.