At TouchPad Electronics, we have made a significant investment to ensure quality and efficiency with the use of state-of-the-art CyberOptics 3D AOI machines. “AOI” stands for “Automated Optical Inspection,” and these machines allow us to perform 100% inspection of all parts and solder up to IPC standards in seconds. Every component is inspected against 17 different inspection targets like component size, color, coplanarity, top marking verification, lifted leads, solder volume, and much more.

As a frame of reference, a recent project required a program with over 10,000 inspection targets per board. Through the aid of this unrivaled technology, each board completed 100% parts and solder inspection in just over 16 seconds. Inspection processing covers up to 210cm² per second and is accurate down to a height resolution of 1 micron. To put that in perspective, that is about 200 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair.

With this state-of-the-art equipment, we have the capability to archive all inspection parameters for traceability purposes down to a serialized board, or component level and provide that information back to our customers. We can also track and analyze trend data for process and product improvement. These trends offer in-process analysis that is communicated upline to our paste inspection machines in real time. Having these capabilities allows us to inspect short run prototypes, volume production runs, and everything in between.

This is the type of process verification and capability normally found in a tier 1 facility, and TouchPad is light years ahead of competitors by employing it in our facility. Machines like these allow each and every board that goes through our facility to be inspected exponentially more precisely, quickly, and consistently than was ever possible before. Learn more about this incredible technology in the video below: