side view on closed 0816 smt automatic feeder, CAD render

side view on open 0816 smt automatic feeder, CAD render

back side view on closed 0816 smt automatic feeder, CAD render

The cover tape removal unit is optional. If you entail another removal solution omit the microswitch, feeder pcb, the bearing and some of the plastic parts. The servo-motor is then directly connected via a 3 pin cable to the arduino mega controller.

Download the parts in the download section. One 8mm feeder is produced from about 70g plastics.

• 0.2 and 0.3mm layer thicknesses were tested
• at 0.3mm layer: 2 solid bottom layer, 3 solid top layer
• at 0.2mm layer: 3 solid bottom layer, 5 solid top layer
• 0.3mm nozzle: 0.34mm extrusion width; 0.4mm nozzle: 0.45mm extrusion width were successfully tested, 0.5mm nozzle is too big. 0.4mm nozzle is preferred.
• PETG was well tested, ABS+/smartABS/easyABS works, too. PLA was reported to work, too.
• Slic3r Prusa Edition used

one set on 3d printers buildplate

Please see the 3D-CAD model to find the position of every part. Here are just important steps described. Additionally see annotations in BOM.

Most parts can be used as printed. Remove all blobs and hairs from parts that are moving. Moving parts should move with less friction. Two parts need further preparation:

1. Cut away the small cube to make the advancing lever sharp, see picture.	2. Remove support from cover tape removal housing

• Insert 1.8mm diameter pin into advancing lever (pin max. 13mm length!)
• Mount piston rod to advancing lever with M2x8mm screw. Don't tighten too much.

Assembled advancing group

Check that pin does NOT raise above cover

• Mount arm delivered with servo motor as shown in the pictures.

Mount the piston rod in a hole distanced 6.5mm to the rotational axis of the servo. The arm delivered with the SG90 servo should be mounted in the position full advanced, where the motor's angle is at 90°. To make sure the servo is at 90° it is time to connect it to the arduino mega directly as the figure depicts with jump wires or by means of the controller-pcb to the connector N0 if it's at your hand right now already.

Go to the controller page for detailed instructions on where to obtain the firmware and upload it to the arduino mega. After flashing firmware open the serial monitor in the arduino ide and issue the following commands to set the servo angle to 90°:

M610 S1 ; enable feeder
M603 N0 A90 ; set servo of feeder N0 to 90°

• Insert the SG90 servo with piston rod and advancing lever mounted, tighten with M2 screws
• Mount the microswitch with 2 M2x10 screws
• Fit bearing into gearing wheel of cover tape removal unit
• Pull spring above feeder: fix with 2 screws, there are several holes to adjust tension
• Pressure spring within the feeder: fix with M3x20 screw and washer (if needed). Tighten a little and test with paper and plastic tape that it's going easy enough but is well hold

Insert the soldered feeder pcb into the slot. Place the cable from servo to pcb as depicted. Residual cable can be placed within the feeder in the free area below the microswitch, so there is no clutter below the feeder.

Mount the cover to the base with M3 screws of 6, 8 or 10mm length.

The removal unit can be mounted at three different height levels to enable stacking the feeder next to each other. Adjust pressure of spring to have enough friction making the cover tape not slipping through, usually it doesn't take much pressure.

Please check following on each assembled feeder before closing it with the cover:

• Check troubleshooting guide
• Is the pin inserted in the advancing lever not rising above the cover at both sides?
• Spring to hold the tape in place should only be as biased as neccessary. A good setpoint is found when the pickup location after feed action is very consistent. Usually plastic tapes need much more force to be kept in place as paper tapes do.
• For plastic tapes or thin paper tapes adjust the feeder's lane height by turning the M2x8-screw clockwise. Make sure the tape is not screwed down fully as the tape can't be advanced any more.
• If pickup location is not accurate you may want to lower the force of the pull spring. It doesn't take much force to remove the cover tape. Especially plastic tapes may not be positioned accurate if cover tape tension is too high.

This is very specific to your machine. Please see the full 3D-model of the machine for an example of how to mount to a machine designed similar as Anthony Webbs. The feeders are designed to have the place to pick at about 23mm above fixation-layer and should fit though to other feeders (JohnSL, Malte Randt). To feed the feeder with parts, consider to use the reelholder.

OpenPnP needs some electronics receiving the G-Codes coming from OpenPnP to drive the servomotor. You need some electronics to drive the servomotor. For this purpose there is an Arduino-shield and a firmware available (see below). How to configure OpenPnp → see separate page.

The downloads are separated by tape width.

latest v1.80 STL-files

.stl files → prepared for direct printing

• 8mm tape
• 12mm tape
• 16mm tape
• 24mm tape (very experimental)

Find older versions archived on github.

misc_addon-parts.zip

latest v1.80 STEP-files

.step → interchange format

• 8mm
• 12mm
• 16mm
• 24mm

Native CAD-Model

If you would like to get the native Solidworks CAD-model, please contact me and I will send you.

Please beware: The model is grown by time. It is not clean, but functional.

If you changed the model for your needs and like to derive feeder for different tape width, edit sizes in the equation editor in Solidworks