X-ray Permeable Vacuum Table for Circuit Board Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machining stations for circuit boards, particularly those using aluminum receiving plates, limit X-ray imaging and workpiece clamping, preventing complete inspection and requiring re-clamping for further machining.
Innovation Solution
A machining station with a table made of X-ray permeable material, featuring a vacuum distribution grid with beveled or rounded edges and inclined bores, allowing full-surface vacuum clamping and X-ray inspection without material thickness differences that disrupt imaging, and enabling direct machining without re-clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an aluminum receiving plate with a frame structure is used, then the workpiece can be clamped in a vacuum area, but the thick aluminum frame completely absorbs X-rays preventing complete inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving plate material is changed from aluminum to plastic, fundamentally altering the material parameter to enable X-ray permeability while maintaining vacuum clamping functionality. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing both complete X-ray inspection and reliable workpiece clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving plate is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides vacuum clamping for workpiece fixation and allows complete X-ray transmission for inspection. The entire plate surface becomes both a clamping area and an inspection area, eliminating the need for separate frame structures that block X-rays.
2Ease of operation
If a frame-like receiving plate with a limited measuring area is used, then the vacuum field can be concentrated in the frame, but the circuit boards cannot be completely analyzed and must be re-clamped for further machining
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving plate is segmented into a support surface with vacuum distribution channels and a frame structure, but unlike traditional designs, the entire plate including the frame area provides vacuum clamping. This segmentation allows the vacuum field to be distributed across the full plate surface, enabling complete workpiece clamping and inspection without re-clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The workpiece is clamped on the receiving plate in advance for both X-ray inspection and subsequent machining operations. The receiving plate is designed beforehand to provide full-surface vacuum clamping, eliminating the need for re-clamping after inspection. All necessary actions are prepared in advance on a single clamping surface.
3Reliability
If channels are formed in the support surface for vacuum distribution, then full-surface vacuum clamping is achieved, but sharp edges create visible transitions and disrupt image processing
Solution Approach 1:
The channels in the support surface are designed with rounded edges instead of sharp edges. This curvature modification eliminates visible transitions in X-ray images that would otherwise disrupt image processing. The rounded edges maintain vacuum distribution functionality while ensuring clean, uninterrupted X-ray imaging for accurate measurement and inspection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables complete and secure X-ray inspection and machining of circuit boards with improved fixation and image processing, allowing for uninterrupted analysis and machining without re-clamping.
Implementation Method 1
X-ray material testing is basically known in many applications. For this purpose, X-rays are generated in an X-ray tube and guided through a workpiece.
Implementation Method 2
The suction port is here connected in terms of flow with a distribution grid, which consists of several channels and/or through openings.
Implementation Method 3
The circuit boards can be held on the receiving plate by a vacuum.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a machining station for machining platelike workpieces (1) by means of at least one tool, in particular a drilling station for machining at least one circuit board, as well as to a method for controlling or identifying a platelike workpiece (1). The machining station has at least one X-ray radiation source (3), at least one detector (4) and a table (2) that can be positioned between the X-ray radiation source (3) and the detector (4), on which the workpiece (1) to be machined can be fastened. The table (2) has a receiving plate (6) made out of a material permeable to X-rays (5), in particular a plastic. The receiving plate (6) has at least one suction port (11) for extracting air and a distribution grid, which is connected in terms of flow with the at least one suction port (11) and consists of several channels (10) unilaterally open in a support surface (9) with beveled and/or rounded edges (13) and/or of inclinedly running through openings (14).