40 SMT007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2021
ment. e role of automation can be a simple
one of adding loaders and stackers for material
handling to new equipment that improves qual-
ity, productivity, or technology. For a "connect-
ed" series of process steps, as seen in Figure 7,
the implementation may be in phases that add
incremental equipment like smart conveyors
and sensors to networked recipes that control
the processes of lay-up and lamination. SMT007
Happy Holden has worked in
printed circuit technology since
1970 with Hewlett-Packard,
NanYa/Westwood, Merix,
Foxconn and Gentex. Happy is
the the author of Automation
and Advanced Procedures in
PCB Fabrication and 24 Essential Skills for Engi-
neers. He is currently a contributing technical
editor with I-Connect007.
Figure 7: Series of workstations in the plan.
