Dual lane vs double line SMT

Dual line safe space but not suitable for high population component mounted on PCB. Please study on estimate throughput before make decision.

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Hi toki,

First of all it depends on how much the company would like to invest in such a methodology. Second of all, why would you make a line to be single lane - double line one after each other, is that automotive / medical standard, not to handle PCBs manually? For that you will need a huge area or turntables. But let's go back to advantages and disadvantages of both.

Dual lane is not necessarily good for assembling both sides at one go. So what will you do until the first side is built? The other lane will stay idle? It's the same vice versa. That's okay as Davandran said, mostly for non-complex board which requires smaller kitting / set-up.

Single lane double line sounds okay, you can use them for other products as well, but you need more space / turntables and brides in-line, so operators don't have to walk for too long if there's a problem on the other side. You can as well build separate products on the two lines as well, and as you wanted, . I'd go for this one, despite it would be a massive investment. And don't forget about PCB flipper if you want to avoid handling manually :)

The other thing I saw, two separate lines to use a common oven and AOI, which worked in a high volume - low mix company, but is not intended to be for assembling both sides at one go (it's pretty obvious)

Kind regards, Tom

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Hello toki,

The only factor you need to consider is the production yield. If the volume is really high, need two smt line to run continually to meet the production, then u have no choice. If the volume is not that much, then u can consider below smt line process to make it easily change between top side and bottom side Loader---flipper--printer--conveyor--P&P---conveyor--reflow oven---AOI---NG/OK unloader. For example at morning when u do the top side process, u can set flipper to bypass function like a conveyor. At afternoon when u do the bottom side process, u active flipper to flip the board to bottom side automaticlly, of course u need to change stencil in printer. Then run the bottom side. This is very cost saving and also very flexible.

Let me know if you have any questions or if you need an offer.

BR, Leo sales@1clicksmt.com www.1clicksmt.com

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Volume dictates throughput required. High-Volume = Requires redundant processes, Two Lines. Mid-Volume = Dual Lane or Two Lines. Low-Volume = Single Line. So Mid-Volume is the only volume scenario that a case for dual lane could be made. Dual Lane : Pro’s= Lower Cost (compared to Two Lines), Floor Space savings, operational costs. Con’s= Higher Cost (compared to Single Line), Less Flexibility (more product limitations like size and oven control), increased machine complexity. I’m just guessing, but maybe you realize a 30% capital equipment cost savings with Dual Lane versus Two Lines. I don’t see the cost savings justifying giving up the flexibility and redundancy of having two lines. Maybe floor space saving is important enough. Most of us don’t have the luxury of running a single product on a line for the life of the line. We are changing over between jobs and figuring out how to build the next one with what we have.

This message was posted the Electronics Forum @ SMTA

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