Dedicated tooling delivers optimum support for board and stencil during pre-placement processes. Until now it has been relatively expensive - and slow - to produce. Our advanced technology has changed forever the economics and turnaround time associated with custom tooling.
Newly developed technology allows DEK to generate custom tooling using a CNC program derived directly from assembly data such as Gerber, HPGL or CAD. Alternatively tooling can be designed and built using existing product boards. Automating the transition from electronic board data to CNC milling program allows us to offer an unprecedented low unit cost, coupled with 1 to 5 day worldwide delivery for DEK customers, dependent on location.
The automated design flow is simple and requires minimal data input. From raw Gerber data, combined with component package information and data specific to the printing machine's tooling tower, the location and dimensions of necessary component recesses and vacuum holes are determined and the CNC program generated automatically. The process is fully verifiable by 3D graphical software, enabling us to validate the resulting CNC program prior to machining. This guarantees compatibility between your board and the custom tooling.
Custom tooling solutions from DEK comprise the machined aluminium top plate, mounted on a vacuum plenum to create an assembly compatible with the tooling tower of the customer's specified printing platform. In operation, custom tooling requires minimal set-up and product changeover is simple, requiring only the top-plate to be exchanged to match the new job.
Custom tooling provides uncompromised physical support. Coupled with the benefits of significant cost saving and rapid turnaround, custom dedicated tooling is first choice in a wide range of applications.
Our automated CAD platform is designed to give customers around the world a competitive advantage in the implementation of dedicated custom tooling. The system replaces traditional manual or semi-manual systems with complete automation, standardised design rules and ultimately, higher quality tooling at an unprecedented fast turnaround.
This system was developed primarily as a response to demand from our customers working in the automotive industry. Since this industry is entirely reliant on the quality, repeatability and traceability of its own output, it is imperative that this is reflected in DEK’s own processes. The quest for standardised design rules meant that we analysed our own processes, not only identifying how we could implement this, but also areas in which we could further improve efficiency and capacity.
The platform uses standardised design rules to maximise the quality of tooling used during high accuracy mass imaging. The automated CAD system enables 100% repeatable and optimised interpretation of PCB data in the production of dedicated custom tooling. The automated CAD platform also enables us to share CAD resources between different CAD offices. This means that we are able to guarantee that customers will always receive the same level of capacity and product – regardless of other manufacturing variables.