Background
A customer wants to customize an SMT nozzle to pick up springs on a Yamaha / Hitachi GXH or G5S pick-and-place machine.
Component name: Eccentric spring
Below are the dimensions and structural drawing.
Attempt failed
Before this, we also tried vacuum nozzles. See the photo below. It could pick up the spring, but the inner wall of nozzle would stuck spring, and it couldn’t place it onto the PCBA board.
I even told the client that if they could outsource this step to another factory. At that time, I didn’t understand the equipment and told the client that Hitachi machines couldn’t use a nozzle gripper. I was wrong. Incredible, I helped them design a JUKI nozzle gripper. (below photo)
We explored various solutions, and the most common response was: we can’t do it. It’s unlikely to be absorbed. We’ve never made such an eccentric spring.
You can image how disappointed I am. So does my customer. I am not capable of solving this problem for him.
Do you know the reason?
It’s we are all trapped in a fixed mindset.
When customer requests vacuum nozzle for special spring. We only think about vacuum nozzle.
And someone told GXH cannot use nozzle gripper that I believed. I did not doubt it, even I did not think via my mind.
Modern AI robots can also lie(spout nonsense with a straight face). Please believe that you are a awareness and thinking human being, and that you govern this world, including AI.
Okay, let’s back to the topic.
Key Problems That Need to Be Solved
During the pickup process, we found several challenges with this spring component:
- The D2 end face is extremely small (φ0.6 mm)
- The spring is eccentric (offset 0.4 mm)
- The structure is hollow
- Feeding direction: D2 facing upward
Comparison of Pickup Solutions
| Problem | Vacuum Nozzle |
|---|---|
| D2 end face too small (φ0.6 mm) | Insufficient suction, components easily drop |
| Eccentric spring (0.4 mm offset) | Difficult alignment, easy to jam |
| Hollow structure | Vacuum leakage |
| Feeding direction (D2 facing up) | Can only pick the small end face |
Based on the comparison above, a gripper-type nozzle is more suitable for picking and placing this spring component.
Working Principle of the Gripper-Type Nozzle
[ GXH Multi-Function Head ]
│
[ Gripper Mechanism ] ← pneumatic or mechanical drive
/ \
/ \ ← two or more gripper jaws
/ \
[ Spring ] ← grip D1 or D2 outer diameter
▄ D2 = φ0.6
█ D1 = φ1.5
The gripper clamps the outer diameter of the spring, allowing stable pickup without relying on vacuum suction.
Clamping Method Options
1. Clamping D1 (φ1.5 mm)
The gripper jaws can be designed with a φ1.5 mm arc groove, which provides more stable clamping.
2. Clamping D2 (φ0.6 mm)
The gripper jaws can also be designed with a φ0.6 mm arc groove, suitable for feeding orientation where the small end faces upward.
3. Adaptive Clamping
The jaws can also be designed with a V-shaped groove, allowing the nozzle to adapt to different diameters automatically.
Compatibility With GXH Machine Interface
This custom nozzle must be compatible with the GXH multi-function head interface.
Key parameters of the GXH multi-function head:
- Placement accuracy: ±0.01 mm ~ ±0.05 mm
- Component size range: 0.6 × 0.3 mm ~ 44 × 44 mm
(The spring is well within this range) - Number of multifunction nozzles: 3 (automatic nozzle change supported)
Things You Must Check Before Purchasing
Before ordering a gripper nozzle, please confirm the following:
1. Check Your GXH Machine Configuration
First confirm:
- Whether your GXH machine has a multi-function module / multi-function head (the type with 3 nozzles)
2. Check Machine Software Compatibility
Make sure the machine software supports gripper-type nozzle configuration.
3. Check the Nozzle Library
Verify whether your existing nozzle library supports installation of a gripper nozzle.
Conclusion
That’s all for today’s sharing.
I hope this article helps solve your SMT nozzle pickup problems when handling special components like eccentric springs.
If you have a better solution, feel free to leave a comment and share your experience.
When faced with difficulties, ask yourself repeatedly, “Is this really impossible? What else I can do?” No one is born a professional; we all find answers through failure. Admitting you’re wrong is the greatest progress. Let’s encourage each other!
I’m Fiona, and if you need help with custom SMT nozzles or feeders, I’m always here to help.
