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PastePuck enclosed paste printing system

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#54087

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 18 March, 2008

A couple years back we were looking at going to an enclosed solder paste printing process, similar to the ProFlow, Crossflow, or Rheometric Pump. We have older MPM AP25's with a custom transport. Speedline told us that in order to add the RheoPump, we would have to update our computer (price tag $20k each). We have a custom transport, so updating the computer wasn't an option despite the cost. There was a company called PastePuck from Crossflow International out of England that made a nice aftermarket system that would not require an upgrade. It was distributed by AIM in the US for a while. There were a number of articles and features about this system for quite a while. I had quotes for this PastePuck system and this is what we were going to pursue once funding was approved.

I finally conviced our management to spend the money on this system (it took 2 years), but now the company don't seem to be in business. The website is still up (pastepuck.com), but it hasn't been updated since 2002. I haven't been able to contact any one. AIM, which stopped carrying the system, thinks the company may have been bought out but they didn't know any more information.

Does any one know anything about this system (or any similar system) or what happened to it? I really would like to go to an enclosed printing system, but I don't want to purchase an entire new printer to get it. Our custom transport needs prevent me from even going the used equipment route.

I'm open to anyone's thoughts or ideas.

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#54090

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 18 March, 2008

I guess one question is why go to this system? Not because it's out dated, but why do you feel the need to go with this type of process?

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#54092

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 18 March, 2008

There are 2 reasons for wanting to change to an enclosed print system: - Reduce solder paste usage. (We run a high volume application so any reduction in paste scrap is a big money saver to our company.) - Improved print quality. (Ours is a non-reworkable high-reliability product. Enclosed systems have shown to produce more consistent prints.)

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#54093

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 18 March, 2008

I know for a fact that you do not need a new computer. Speedline likes to say that about everything. I can have a broken sensor and they say I need a computer upgrade. Their tech. support people tend to be salesmen at times. You just need a newer software version. 7.0 or above would work fine. How much is the pump head retro, anyway?

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#54094

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 18 March, 2008

I don't doubt about not really needing the computer upgrade. I've seen the same thing from them before. (Although it was a Speedline tech that originally told me about the PastePuck system.) Unfortunately we have custom software (4.1h) that goes with our custom transport that was developed 14 years ago. I am therefore stuck with this software version which doesn't support the pump. I think I'm probably out of luck and will have to stick with squeegee blades, but I thought I would try and see if anyone else knew anything.

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#54097

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 18 March, 2008

Give Scott or Dick Wilson a call @ 330-724-3333.

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#54116

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 20 March, 2008

You can also try Omni-Tronics, Inc. (763) 425-2675. This is who we purchase parts from for our Paste Puck.

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#54130

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 20 March, 2008

I am not a big believer in these systems, unless you are doing a no-clean, multi-shift operation with minimum changeover.

If you are a small batch shop, the amount of solder paste you end up wasting can actually be the same or more, if you are not running your machine every day, and you have to clean out the head, due the paste getting old and not "turned over".

Printing with blades is pretty easy, why would you mess with an enclosed pump of any kind if you didn't have to?

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#54132

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 20 March, 2008

Well, we are in fact doing a no-clean, multi-shift, very high volume, minimal changeover operation. We use up any paste long before it gets old. Because of the sheer volume any reduction in paste scrap for us is big money. We also are in a zero defects operation that requires high reliability solder joints. Everything I've seen in studies and testimonials about enclosed printing systems has shown more consistent printing. Thus, for our application it appears to be a perfect fit.

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#54193

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 27 March, 2008

Hi If you still want to gp down the Paste Puck route then Reprint Limited has an ex Demo Paste Pucj system available available.

http://www.reprintservices.co.uk/Screen_Printer_Availability_Listing.html

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#54287

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 7 April, 2008

Pump print heads do not print better. Blades print faster and better quality than pump print heads.

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#54288

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 7 April, 2008

#54290

PastePuck enclosed paste printing system | 7 April, 2008

yes, should have said "studies have shown"... as they do. if not, all would be using pump print heads on our DEKs and MPMs that can take them, aye?

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