Christmas Comes Early
The holidays are just around the corner, but SparkFun got an early Christmas present - a new pick and place!
We're having an IRC chat tonight, Wednesday the 9th! Got an idea or question? Join us at 4PM MST and chat with Nate and the rest of the SparkFun gang.
SparkFun must have managed to stay off Santa's "naughty list" because Christmas came early this year.
This past week, SparkFun production got a serious upgrade with a new pick and place machine - the Manncorp MC384. It can place up to 4000 parts per hour and has a special vision system that allows for non-contact, on-the-fly alignment of SMD components before placing them onto the PCB. It cost us just a little over $52k, but it's going to make our production process even smoother.
We have to give a shout-out to MannCorp for their great service in getting this thing. We made our order the first week of November and had the machine by December 4th - a four week turn-around time, which in industrial equipment is pretty darn good. Kudos, MannCorp!
In the spirit of the holiday season, I offer the SparkFun Pick-n-Place poem. {ahem}
and all through SparkFun,
Not a soldering iron sizzled, nor a hot air gun.
Our multimeters were hung by our labcoats with care
in hopes our new pick-and-place would soon be here.
SparkFunners were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Arduinos danced in their heads.
Nate was in his office, working late hours,
Matt was in too, building PCB towers.
When out in the lot there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their desks to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
The moon shined down on the fresh Boulder snow,
gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
but a MannCorp truck - the pick and place was here!
With a friendly driver, so lively and quick,
They knew in a moment it wasn't a trick!
He hauled the pick and place in its big wooden crate,
they both exclaimed quickly, "This will be great!"
"Now, uLog!, now, WiTilt! now, Nordic! now, XBee!
On, Breakouts! on, Sensors! on, Classes! on, Tracking!"
The driver sprang to his truck, and gave a quick whistle,
And away he flew like the down of a thistle.
But we heard him exclaim, with a smile on his face,
"Merry Christmas to all, enjoy your pick and place!"
