TestWorks Secures AWS Electronics Group Investment in MIRTEC Europe’s AOI Systems

AWS engineers felt it was time to purchase this state of the art equipment. As part of its wider strategy for interchangeability and standardisation across sites, AWS purchased three MIRTEC MV-3U Desktop AOI Systems for each of its SMT Facilities, two of which are based within the UK and the third can be found in Slovakia.

The MIRTEC MV-3U Desktop AOI System features many of the same characteristics of the MV-3L, the industry’s most widely accepted five camera desktop AOI system. Each of these three systems has been independently configured as a compatible, “ultra-large” version of the MV-3L. The MV-3U can accept PCBs of 800 x 510 mm, which is significantly larger than the typical, maximum requirements for UK manufacturers who have been used to working with a maximum PCB size of 510 x 400 mm. All three systems en route to AWS Electronics are configured with the highest resolution Precision 9.8 Micron Telecentric Compound Lens and four, 5 Mega Pixel Side-View Cameras for 01005 component inspection. Their rework areas will feature remote, paperless repair with everything bar-coded for full traceability.

When asked to comment, Jon Bosworth, Director of TestWorks added that “Anyone involved in printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) design, manufacturing or procurement will tell you that as the industry advances, components have become smaller and more complex. So much so, that the technology to visually inspect them has needed to change. MIRTEC has been exceptionally successful in embracing this challenge.”

According to Jamie Maughan, AWS Group Operations Director, “We see this as a real investment. Our customers demand more and more reliability and this new equipment offers us the latest in camera technology, providing greater functionality in identifying issues with component to PCB as well as normal polar and component ID checks. Customers are demanding more data and this equipment provides full SPC reports and controls. We have replaced all of our AOI machines with this leading-edge, Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) equipment which means we have state of the art technology and interchangeability, especially when it comes to offline programming.”