Jet print apparatus and method for printed circuit board manufacturing

Abstract

A jet dispensing print system for dispensing a liquid or viscous, jettable substance as a pattern onto the surface of a PCB in an industrial manufacturing PCB production line. The system includes a printing system having a printing bridge system, that includes a static and rigid printing bridge to accommodate in a precise manner several jet print heads, each being fitted with a multitude of jet nozzles. The jet print heads are utilized to achieve multiple redundancy whereby part of the total amount of available nozzles are utilized as back-up nozzles. A printing table positioned underneath the static and rigid printing bridge, accommodating a vacuum table with area-addressable suction force, whilst the pattern is dispensed in a jetting manner onto the PCB. A motorized system, for moving the printing table simultaneously in two perpendicular directions. An ink-supply system for supplying the several jet print heads with the liquid or viscous substance. A control system responsive to the pattern and PCB dimensional distortions for controlling the system in order to achieve at desired registration precision level the dispensing of liquid or viscous, jettable substance as the pattern onto the surface of the PCB, and includes an user interface for providing a status report of the printing system. The jet dispensing PCB print system is utilized for inter alia, legend print, solder mask, etch resist mask, plating resist, temporary (peelable) mask, adhesives, CSP and bare die encapsulation.