Sherlock-300 series automated optical inspection (AOI) systems

Sherlock-300 series automated optical inspection (AOI) systems provide good defect coverage, average cycle times of 10 s/board (including transport), low false call and false accept rates (FCR and FAR) for a wide range of production environments. All three models - benchtop, inline and batch - feature as standard fast multitouch touch-screen control.

The system is capable of detecting: majority of all solder joint defects; component defects and issues; shifting; tombstones; reverse polarity; damaged parts; bent IC leads; pin presence (THT); bent pins (THT); reverse polarity.

All programming and operation is done through the intuitive touch-screen interface. Automatic pick and place and CAD data conversion and a predefined, customisable parts library not only speed up programming but also eliminate the need for skilled AOI personnel.

The Sherlock 300 library contains comprehensive inspection data for each part, including image processing settings, lighting conditions, areas to be checked, and more. Custom parts can be quickly created from any predefined part. Sherlock-300F uses a high-resolution, 2.2 MP CMOS camera, a large-aperture telecentric lens and two lighting systems to achieve fast, accurate inspection of both solder quality and components at a scanning rate of 50 cm²/s.

The RGB LED lighting system inspects solder fillets for volume and shape. The three-tier white lighting system inspects component placement and positioning, with reflection and shadow controls to ensure low false calls and low false accepts.

The standard lens inspects parts down to 0201, or the Sherlock-300F can be fitted with a high-magnification lens to inspect parts down to 01005. During inspection, the camera moves, rather than the PCB. This ensures the clearest possible images and fastest inspection speeds. The camera motion system is X-Y bi-axial belt-driven with 50 µm positional accuracy.

The board transport system automatically adjusts to the size set in the program. Sherlock-300F comes standard with a pneumatic PCB stopper and vacuum clamp. It can optionally be purchased with a motor to eliminate the need for a compressed air source.