Voltera Community

Impossibility to align properly

Smurf 2019-12-17 18:10:18 UTC #1

I’m trying to get my solder paste dispensing aligned but often get random results because I mis-identify the feature I’m asked to align with.

My boards tend to have a lot of small vias and other features. The Voltera software typically picks two that are indistinguishable from other small features. It expects me to hit on the feature in question from a distance where I can’t see them well without a magnifying glass – which there is no space for because the Voltera’s hardware is in the way.

OK. That’s for the complaint. To fix:

add an option to use corners of pads, instead of centers of holes, as reference points. It’s much easier to see proper alignment that way.
esp. when verifying alignment, add an option to lower the probe until it actually hits the board (assuming I clicked on a pad of course) so that I can see whether it touches down at the appropriate position.
let me pick my own reference points. I can easily add two or three visually-obvious aligment targets to my boards.

MikeL 2019-12-17 20:45:22 UTC #2

Hey Smurf,

You already can totally select whatever features you want to align to. You simply need to click the feature you wish you align to. Here’s an example of the Hello World board and it’s default points.

We choose these points based on a couple of things but the main criteria for selection is pads that are small and those that are as far apart as possible. That said you can select any feature you like.

In terms of verifying alignment the probe will go all the way down and touch any pads you select so you can be sure you’re landing where you want to.

-Mike

AlanDewey 2019-12-18 20:20:43 UTC #3

Fiducials !

Put a small hole near 3 corners of your design. If they can be ‘far’ away from any of your vias or through-holes, they are very easily recognized. I use 0.7mm holes because everything I do always has 0.7mm holes anyway.

Do not put them extremely close to the ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ edge of the board, or you might be trying to drill through the board clamps.

Why 3?

Because when you go to align the second side of the board, if you have placed the board wrong, you will not be able to align to all three. If the board is placed in the correct orientation, you can select each of the 3 fiducials for your alignment.