The development of a multimedia interface for automated laser soldering system

In today's electronics industry, there are several different types of interfaces used for different pieces of manufacturing equipment. It is now possible to create a general, object-oriented interface for most manufacturing equipment that is easy to use, learn how to use, and modify. Such an interface can benefit the user in terms of savings in time and money. The laser soldering interface, designed and implemented in the Center for Integrated Electronics and Electronics Manufacturing (CIEEM) at Rensselaer, is one of the "flexible" user interfaces described above. It was designed using Macromedia Director, which is a multimedia software package. This interface allows the user to communicate with laser Q-switch, video camera, and XY motion table of the CIEEM automated laser soldering system. The system as a whole, is ideal for the single fine-pitch surface mount component soldering that is commonly done by hand in today's electronics industry.