7. First Job (Simplified)

1. Importing Files And Setting The Board Location

To get the machine up and running faster, a pre-configured job file and board file can be used.

1.1. Mount The Demo Board

Mount the Demo Board to the left side of the PCB Holder (align the left end).

The attached transparent double-sided tape can be used to cover the area of the components to be tested. Do not cover the 4 fiducial points.

1.2. Import/open Pre-Configured Job Files

Start OpenPnP and complete machine homing.

Open the Job file PP_DemoBoard_V1.0.job.xml provided by Pandaplacer from the main menu (or shortcut key <CTRL+O>): File > Open Job... > File Browser Dialog

After successfully loading the Job file, the Job tab on the right side of the OpenPnP will display the Board files contained in the current Job file.

Click on the Board file, the corresponding PnP components information will be displayed in the Placements table.

Try to get familiar with the basic operation of Placements table. The left mouse button plus CTRL or SH*IFT can be used for multi-selection. Right mouse button for single/batch editing.

Recommended

Changing the Error Handling from Alert to Defer for all Parts. This way, when an error occurs in a job, OpenPnP does not pause and waiting for the user action. Simply click start again at the end of the run, and OpenPnP will try again for the previously unfinished Parts.

Additional

Workflow for new custom job and boards:

Create a new Job (File > New Job or <CTRL+N>);
Add new board to the Boards table under Job tab, and save the board file;
Select the corresponding board, use File > Import Board to import the Pick and Place file exported by EDA, the component information will be updated to the Placements table;
Save the Job file (File > Save Job or <CTRL+S>).

1.3. Set The Board Location

Set the board location ( origin / zero point of the board design in EDA) so that when performing board fiducial check, the OpenPnP can successfully find the fiducial points within an error tolerance distance.

Two methods can be used:

1.3.1. Method 1 - Using Fiducial Check

This method has a larger error in the results, and requires fiducial check to obtain more accurate results.

Through the Jog panel, manually move the head so that the center of the crosshair in the camera view of the TopCam is aligned with the origin point of the board.

Click the Capture Camera button, set the board location to the current Top Camera position.

Double-click on the Z coordinate and manually enter the Z height value. This value should be equal to the Default PCB Z height value calculated in the previous steps.

The basic board location setup is complete.

1.3.2. Method 2 - Manual Positioning

By manually positioning 2-3 components with known coordinates in the Placements table, the OpenPnP can automatically determines the location and rotation of the board. This method is also used for any PCB that does not have fiducial points.

To reduce the distance traveling during positioning, the board location can be first updated to the approximate position by the capture method in method 1.

Multi-select (CTRL + left mouse button) 2-3 components that are far away from each other in the Placements table and click the corresponding button

Follow the software instructions to manually move the center of the TopCam view to align the center of the corresponding components one by one.

When finished, the X Y position and rotation of the board will be updated automatically.

At the same time, the center of the TopCam will automatically move to the current board location.

Double-click on the Z coordinate and manually enter the Z height value. This value should be equal to the Default PCB Z height value calculated in the previous steps.

The board location setup is complete.

Save current results: File > Save Job or <CTRL+S>

1.4. Perform Board Fiducial Check

During board fiducial check, TopCam moves sequentially to the known fiducial point coordinates (relative to the board location / board origin) and finds and identifies fiducial point within the tolerance distance.

Note

In Placements table the Type of fiducial points should be modified to Fiducial.

After setting the board location, the board fiducial check can be performed automatically by clicking the corresponding button .

After finishing fiducial check, the more accurate X Y positions and rotation of the board will be updated automatically.

Checking Check Fids? will first do fiducial check every time a job starts to run.

Save current results: File > Save Job or <CTRL+S>

The position and rotation of the target board is now precisely defined.

Next, just enable the components in the Placements table that need to be placed and set the available feeders, then click the Start button to run the job.

2. Feeder Settings

Please refer to the related documentation of OpenPnP for details.

https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/Setup-and-Calibration_Feeders

Specific details that apply to the Pandaplacer A1 machine will be provided in future versions of the documentation.

3. First Job

After completing the appropriate feeder settings, it is possible to start running the first job.

https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/User-Manual#your-first-job

Depending on the actual situation, settings such as the visual pipeline may need to be adjusted.

In future versions of the documentation, Pandaplacer will provide more examples for running the first job.

4. FAQs

4.1 Selection Of Nozzle Tips

The selection of the nozzle tip is empirical, and the basic judgment is: choose a nozzle tip that can pick up the component stably without leakage, the tip end should be able to almost fully contact the surface of the component.

The following is a reference table of tips and component packages:

Model	OD	ID	Speed %	Recommendation
CN030	0.6mm	0.3mm	70-100	0201
CN040	0.7mm	0.4mm	70-100	0402, 0201
CN065	1.2mm	0.6mm	70-100	0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, SOT23, Diode, etc.
CN140	2.2mm	1.1mm	40-100	0805, 1206, 1210, Diode, SOT23, 3528, 5050, etc.
CN220	3.6mm	2.2mm	40-100	SOP ICs, SOT89, SOT223, SOT252, 5050, Electrolytic Capacitors, Inductors, SMD connectors, etc.
CN400	6.2mm	4.0mm	30-80	ICs from 5 to 12mm
CN750	9.0mm	7.5mm	30-80	ICs and Modules bigger than 12mm