People can hardly live without their smart phones today. Consumer electronics are powerful in performance and getting smaller, but the smaller they become, the more challenges they create for manufacturers. Automated equipment on electronics production lines requires high-speed, high-precision motion control to execute high-precision machining and assembly of tiny, fragile components. Facing market demands, the electronics assembly, semiconductor, and optical product industries have growing requirements for assembly machines that ensure greater stability, smaller size, higher speed, and exceptional accuracy for higher yield rates and performance. With extensive experience in the electronics assembly industry, Delta has launched the Micro-Scale Linear Motion Control Solution to optimize high-speed linear Z-axis motion and solve the customer pain point of insufficient yield rate.

Z-axis motion refers to movement along the vertical direction. On the assembly line, the Z-axis motion entails pick-and-place, load-and-unload, pressing, surface mounting, die bonding, insertion, and inspection of chips and components. Any unexpected errors during the Z-axis motion can lead to component damage, which consequently affects the product yield rate. For example, in semiconductor manufacturing, the tolerance of pick-and-place pressure for die placement and bonding is only ±2g, which poses a substantial technical challenge. It is difficult for regular equipment to overcome poor force control accuracy and slow response time. On top of that, the mechanism has to be as compact as possible with multi-axis synchronization to enhance productivity.

To address the challenge, Delta has presented the Micro-Scale Linear Motion Control Solution. The solution’s key component, the Linear Pocket Actuator LPL, is only the size of one’s hand, but integrates linear motors, optical linear encoders, force sensors and more of Delta’s patented technologies. The LPL features a very short response time, fine, stable force analysis, and high position feedback resolution to fulfill the need for high precision. The direct drive design with zero backlash reduces friction and wear as well as maintenance costs.

The LPL’s slim design enables installing multiple units in arrays within a limited space to enhance equipment utilization. The multi-axis design paired with Delta’s dual-drive Servo Drive ASDA-D3 ensures smooth continuous motion with intensive acceleration and deceleration. The unique pattern design of the optical linear encoder plus the force sensor helps the LPL accomplish soft landing via accurate force and position feedback. Through fine-tuned speed and force control, the module smoothly conducts small component tending and assembly without any damage.

Delta’s Micro-Scale Linear Motion Control Solution accelerates production speed by 15% and enhances yield rate by 20% in semiconductor packaging processes, while significantly boosting assembly speed and yield rate by up to 25% in the optical product assembly process. The solution’s multi-axis configuration combined with high-speed, high-precision motion control and the soft landing function efficiently enhances assembly precision and product yield rate, and fulfills industrial demands for upgrading automated assembly lines in electronics and semiconductor production.Delta’s Micro-Scale Linear Motion Control Solution enhances precision machining equipment with high-speed, high-precision motion control.