JUNE 9--Cognex Corporation (Natick, MA; www.cognex.com), a supplier of machine vision systems, announced a multiyear OEM agreement with DEK International (Dorset, England), a manufacturer of screen-printing machinery for the electronics-manufacturing industry. Under the agreement, Cognex will supply machine-vision systems for DEK's current and future screen-printing machines, which are used to imprint circuitry patterns onto the surfaces of computer circuit boards.
The vision systems align the screen or stencil to each circuit board prior to printing and then to verify that the position and coverage of the stenciled solder paste is within acceptable limits. Cognex inspection software also checks the screen apertures of the printing equipment for blockages or smearing, which helps maintain print quality and optimizes maintenance steps such as screen cleaning.
"The demands for screen printing accuracy and overall print quality are tougher than ever, as circuit boards continue to become more complex and more densely populated with components," said John Hartner, managing director of DEK International. "For the past 12 years, DEK has relied on Cognex machine vision to provide the high levels of accuracy and reliability needed."
