The adjustable Flex feeder can be adjusted according to the size of the component to be mounted, making it ideal for prototyping and new product introductions (NPI). It can be used in place of up to 10 standard fixed size feeders. The feeder can handle tape with very long and/or deep pockets, such as tapes with sockets, coils and other large surface mount devices (SMDs) up to 22mm deep. The operator can set a variable pocket opening size by simply moving the pitch bar backwards or forwards by modifying the magazine. For feeding 32-72mm tapes, the feeder can be fitted with short shafts in order to minimise the space occupied by the feeder. This allows the user to load other feeders needed for the job at hand.

Paul Rooimans, Managing Director of MYDATA Benelux, United Kingdom and Ireland, is expecting the Flex feeder to particularly appeal to electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers: “Sub-contractors could use the Flex feeder to respond instantly to customer demands, without having to wait for delivery of a bespoke feeder,” he commented. “They will be able to assemble specialist prototypes without keeping a range of different sized feeders in stock,” Rooimans concludes.