People from LinuxCNC project helped me sometime ago there
http://www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/forum/49-basic-configuration/27846-cartesian-g-code-to-cylindrical-machine-coordinate?limitstart=0to develop and implement my custom
Eneurokins module for LinuxCNC RTOS, to be able drive a few axis CNC machine in setup like in this concept shown below
Using LinuxCNC and my kinetics module I'm able control this machine eg. with G-code and use for other tasks too, like creating parabolic mirror molds, which was th emain purpose do to something like this but in bigger scale.
Now it is time to bring this concept to reality and I'd like my cheap recognition & pick & place & reflow oven solder machine for tiny PCBs to be controled by LinuxCNC RTOS.
Recognition of SMD elements taken from reels or tubes and placed on (probably blue electricity conductive grounded) plate on top of steel machine bottom main plate mounted using strong neodynium magnets.
While for reflow soldering we don't need place elements at great precision, since melt solder paste surface tension will place them in exact pads position, I hope I will be able using my LinuxCNC kinetics module and visual camera system position at least SO8 and 1206 packages at right places
I have no pressure to finish this project quickly-I know it will be many interesting challenges there, but it would be nice to automate at low cost assembly of decent size but most of the time small PCBs at home
My additional requirement I'd like to achieve in final solution is to be able reflow PCBs in nitrogen atmosphere to avoid oxidation and to be able be probably more flexible with thermal profile, since dangereous oxidation could be limited in comparision to reflowing in modified DIY toaster ovens which do not support nitrogen atmosphere during reflowing PCBs
What do you think, using nitrogen atmosphere in reflowing oven has any advantage over normal reflowing in air?
Anyway I started design my small reflow oven with nitrogen atmosphere support in mind, so I do want test such reflowing process, so looking now for thermal profiles maybe more optimized for nitrogen atmosphere soldering, if such exists ?
We'll see what happends, see you later