ar__systems can you comment on the reel feeder system and how it worked over 15K part placements? Do you have more details or even a Github repository with the progress you have been making on the network protocol?
I have one of these machines heading my way. Was also wondering if a vibration feeder can be added... (Not sure how the software would deal with the reel position)
vibration feeder would be easy to add even with stock s/w. you just define a tray 'stack' with size of one, and it will pick up parts from the same location every time.
Reel feeders on this machine SUCK. The main problem is the peeling mechanism. It just can't be made to work reliably. It constantly changes from pulling on the cover tape too much or too little. I mean, if you have only one or two parts it is fine, you can set it up. I used almost all of the 8mm feeders. It does not happen on all of them at the same time, but there were several that just would not work consistently. If it pulls too much it moves the carrier tape! It needs constant supervision. Other problems is the feeder block itself. the metal part that holds the tape in place is 1mm steel laser cut into shape. It scrapes some black plastic tapes and the shavings get in the way of the pick up. I would unscrew it and clean it up, but all the screws (30 of them!) are locktited and would not move. Also, it does not like clear plastic tapes - I had several of those with bigger ceramic caps. Because the tape is only held at the ends of the feeder channels and those plastic tapes are not very rigid, sometimes instead of pulling the tape through it just mangle it out of shape, bending it into upside down U. Naturally it creates a lot of mess.
The cover film from the feeder is spooled onto the smaller reels. it is routed over a rod. Works ok for 8mm tapes, but for one of my 16mm tapes the cover tape was kind of sticky and was sticking to the rod. We tried to twist it but then the head catches onto it as it moves. Oh well, we ended up wrapping a small roll of paper around the rod
![Smiley :)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
fixed the problem.
So there are dozens of small oversights and the result is that machine requires basically constant supervision to fix mispicks, peeling issues, and what not.
Also, don't run the s/w on W10. the docs says XP is not supported but we actually ran it on XP and it worked fine. On W10 it has some connectivity issues resulting in some commands not executed properly. I first attributed it to trying the machine over wifi, but no. I ended up with a broken nozzle and bent pick up needle as a result of trying w10.