by Scott Bronstad | May 9, 2023 | Events, News, Trade Shows
SMTconnect, Europe’s singular event dedicated to the development, production, service, and application of microelectronic assemblies and systems, is gathering a diverse community of engineers, technologists, and microelectronics enthusiasts in Nuremberg, Germany. The event serves as a thriving platform for the exchange of innovative ideas, fostering collaboration and evolution within the microelectronics ecosystem.
Among the major participants at this year’s event is BPM Microsystems, along with their EU Partner, Adaptsys. They are presenting the BPM310, their latest generation Automated Programmer, which embodies significant advancements in device programming technology. Engineers, industry insiders, and all interested parties are encouraged to experience the BPM310 firsthand at Hall 4, Stand 147.
BPM310: Redefining Automated Programming
The BPM310, BPM Microsystems’ 10th Generation Automated Programmer, is expertly engineered for maximum throughput and adaptability. It boasts up to 6 fully universal programming sites, each with the capacity to host up to 8 sockets. This level of parallelism positions the BPM310 to deliver exceptional programming times, all within a remarkably compact footprint.
The BPM310 comes equipped with cutting-edge features such as the proprietary WhisperTeach™ for automated z-height teaching, BPM.NCRYPT for secure data handling, and real-time vision alignment for accurate device placement. It supports a broad spectrum of devices, ranging from Universal Flash Storage (UFS) and complex microcontrollers to Flash Memory. Moreover, it can proficiently program devices of various dimensions, from the smallest chip-scale packages (CSPs) to the largest Quad Flat Packages (QFPs), all at impressive speeds.
Interactive Demonstrations and Tailored Consultations
Attendees have the opportunity to schedule a live demonstration to witness the BPM310’s capabilities in action or to arrange a meeting to discuss their specific needs and challenges. BPM’s representatives, including Colin Harper, and Director of Sales, Penny Santhanam, Senior Director of Customer Success, will be on hand to provide insights and high-level dialogue.
SMTconnect is a unique forum for the engineering community to engage with the technologies shaping the future of microelectronic assemblies and systems. It’s a platform for gaining insights, initiating business deals, and advancing education in this rapidly evolving field. For more details, please reach out to the BPM Microsystems team.
by William White | Mar 15, 2021 | Patents
US Patent Approved 2/23/2021
An object detection system utilizes a teach cycle performed with an ingenious object detector that utilizes the pick-up nozzle. The height of the object is stored as the taught height to be used subsequently in repetitive operations by the machine. This teaching method is particularly useful for very small objects and is available on all BPM Automated Programming Systems. BPM calls this patented process WhisperTeach™.
WhisperTeach™ offers faster setup times and improved yields; it eliminates common Z-height errors such as miss picks, miss place, and socket continuity flaws. Very small devices such as WLCSP, SOT, DFN have very low mass. When teaching using a vacuum, the suction causes the part to jump up to the nozzle, increasing the possibility of an inaccurate Z teach elevation. Because it uses the pick-up nozzle to detect the object, the system knows precisely the exact coordinates without additional offset calculations.
Modern pick and place machines are highly repeatable. The quality of the repetitive pick/place process is dependent on the accuracy of the teach process. Human teaching can introduce repetitive inaccuracies. WhisperTeach is accurate to within 15microns; approximately 3x more accurate than humans can detect unaided.
WhisperTeach™ Page WhisperTeach Demo Press Release
by Scott Bronstad | Nov 5, 2020 | Case Study, How To, Technology
Some things to consider in a Disaster Plan
See Disaster Recovery Article
- Hardware/Software contracts are up-to-date
- Ensures the fastest response in line-down situations
- Spares are on-site and/or available overnight
- Schedule deliveries for consumables, especially sockets
- Sockets are consumable items
- The schedule ensures they are manufactured/delivered based on your requirements
- Lead time to build a socket can vary, from days to weeks
- Multiple prequalified vendors
- Pre-qualify First Articles ahead of time from your partner supplier
- Negotiate price per device before the disaster takes place
Some problems are good. It’s important for the modern manufacturing operation to prepare for the worst, and the best. There are lots of things that can go wrong. Add this to the list: what happens if one or more people on your line come down with Covid-19? You still have parts to program and production lines to supply. And as things rebound, what will you do if you are hit with an increase in orders? You (no doubt) have built-in capacity; but what if it doubles, or triples (or more)? BPM Microsystems builds systems and accessories that make it easy and cost-effective to make device programming a viable (and profitable) option in-house. Their line of programmers is universal, meaning they utilize the same software and accessories, from the smallest to the largest systems. From the first article (the initial first approved programmed device) to production, the only difference is throughput. Manual systems are perfect for starting out and/or smaller lot sizes (up to 50,000 parts per year). They also come in handy to augment the automated system’s capacity, or for programming short-run parts. BPM’s automated systems are the fastest and easiest to set-up of any programming systems. They are made for programming large data devices, such as eMMC HS400, NAND, NOR, and Serial Flash devices, and other nonvolatile memory devices such as MCUs, PLDs, and FPGAs. High-speed signals support devices up to 200 Mhz and the latest eMMC HS400 modes with data transfer rates of 2.5 nanoseconds per byte. With data transfer rates to 50 Gb per second, and verify rates up to 200 MB per second, BPM’s Automated Systems offer the industry’s fastest times. This is up to 9 times faster than competing “universal” programmers, offering the Largest Memory Support in the industry―256 GB, upgradeable to 512 GB.
WhisperTeach™ & CyberOptics™
WhisperTeach™ is patented hardware/software that automates the critical z-height measurement, which reduces set-up times by as much as 83%. More importantly, it improves yield and job performance compared to manual teaching methods. CyberOptics™ vision component auto measure delivers on-the-fly alignment to maximum device reliability and throughput.
Learn more about WhisperTeach™ auto Z-height teach system here.
Add Capacity
Adding capacity is fairly straightforward. The first option is to add overtime and/or add shifts. BPM’s set-ups don’t require extensive training, so quality and throughput won’t decline after 5 pm. Next, add programming sites and sockets to existing workflows. If utilizing manual systems, additional programmers can be “daisy-chained” to a single workstation (up to 12 total). For automated programmers, additional sites may be added. Each site has the ability to add up to 4 additional sockets (a socket is the electrical interface of hardware/software to program a specific device). Adding sites can double, triple (up to 10X) capacity, depending on which system is used. BPM’s universal sites mean you don’t need two different site technologies for programming different classes of devices. BPM supports more than triple the number of devices as their nearest competitor (36K vs 12K). Some BPM systems, such as the low-cost 3901 or 8th Generation automated systems, can be upgraded for higher throughput, with more devices per hour and/or additional sites or peripherals. When you experience a line-down (for whatever reason), you need solutions that allow you to quickly shift production without skipping a beat. For programming devices, contact your nearest programming center, such as Arrow, Avnet, or A&J. The set-up files can be securely transmitted; if they don’t have the sockets, simply overnight the sockets used on your production. Utilizing programming centers is another way to balance out your work-flow; when a temporary need overwhelms your workflow, you can outsource for extra capacity.
Conclusion
It’s not a matter of “if” things go wrong. It’s a mathematical certainty. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s prudent to be ready for just about anything. With a little forward planning, you should keep production moving. BPM’s systems are built to grow with your business; they have programmers that are still operating daily after 15 years or more. Contact your preferred Programming Center and BPM Microsystems to develop a disaster plan in advance.
See “Market Forces” Article here
by Scott Bronstad | Oct 15, 2020 | Video
WhisperTeach™ Fast Set-Up Beats Manual Set-Up in Real-Time
It’s like watching paint dry after a while, but if you want it, here it is…
WhisperTeach™ is a revolutionary Auto-Z teach technology developed by BPM that offers a fast, accurate, and efficient setup for pick-and-place functions in BPM Automated Programmer. It eliminates the need for a highly-skilled operator to manually set up the critical Z-height, thereby reducing the setup time by at least twice. Furthermore, WhisperTeach™ offers improved yields with three times more accuracy in comparison to the traditional (old-fashioned) method of setting up the machine.
The 29-minute video demonstrates a side-by-side or top-to-bottom comparison of a BPM Automated Programmer being set up using the traditional method and utilizing WhisperTeach™. The purpose of the video is to showcase the efficiency and accuracy of WhisperTeach™ technology in real time.
What is WhisperTeach?
WhisperTeach™— BPM’s advanced patented Auto-Z teach technology eliminates the need for a highly-skilled operator to set critical Z-height for pick-and-place functions. The traditional method of setting up an Automated Programmer often requires a highly skilled operator, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error. With BPM’s WhisperTeach™, the setup time is significantly reduced, and the system operates with improved accuracy, reducing the chances of miss picks, miss place, and socket continuity errors.
CSP Challenge
WhisperTeach™ technology also addresses the challenges faced in setting up very small chip scale packages (CSP) like WLCSP, SOT, and DFNs, which have low mass. With the traditional method, there is a possibility of an inaccurate Z teach elevation as the suction from the vacuum causes the part to jump up to the nozzle. WhisperTeach™ eliminates this challenge and ensures a consistent and accurate Z-height, thereby reducing the chances of pick-and-place errors, dropped parts, cracked parts, and continuity errors.
In conclusion, WhisperTeach™ technology offers a fast, accurate, and efficient setup process for BPM Automated Programmer, making it an ideal solution for various industries that require quick and precise pick-and-place functions. The video showcases the effectiveness of this technology in real time, providing clear evidence of its superior performance compared to the traditional method. Learn more here.
by Scott Bronstad | Mar 18, 2019 | Announcements, News
BPM Microsystems finished 2018 with 55% year-over-year sales growth for automated programming systems. “We’re pleased with how the marketplace has embraced our automated systems,” said William White, Founder and CEO at BPM Microsystems. “We launched two major upgrades last year: the 3910 and the 4910. Both the machines exceeded their predecessors and helped fuel an increase in our market share. They excel in speed, ease of use, and lower cost of ownership.” BPM ended the year with an overall sales growth of just under 20% (compared to 2017).
BPM launched two major product enhancements in 2018 with the 3910 in September and the 4910 in November at Electronica in Munich, Germany. The 3910 and 4910 feature WhisperTeach, the award-winning Z-Teach hardware/software that delivers faster set-ups, better accuracy, and repeatable high-quality programming, critical for modern devices. The machines also received a major increase in speed: The 3910 is rated at 1,432 Devices per hour with up to 16 sockets (44% faster than the 3900), while the 4910 delivers 1,708 DPH with up to 48 sockets (almost 30% faster than the 4900).
BPM’s proven 4000 series handlers have more than proven their reliability with hundreds of installations worldwide with many systems still in 24×7 operation after more than 16 years. BPM’s proven 9th Generation Programming Sites deliver the fastest and most universal programming site technology in the market. BPM’s global service and support network serve the demanding requirements of mission-critical installations across six continents.
See the original press release here
