QPlacer information and help

[LeoBodnar]

I am looking for any help, advice, dcumentation or hints on how to operate a QPlacer.

I have just reassembled a machine that we bought after it has developed an unknown fault. I have never seen it in operation and the owner can't give me much advice either. This is going to be quite an adventure.

From what I have learnt it uses the same or very similar feeders as RV series.
Software is called Genesis and runs on Windows XP. Its help system is only 20% finished - it only has help on importing BOMs and Gerbers but all the feedres allocation, machine setup and operation help chapters are empty.
Video capture is via PCI card PXC200AL-00.
Machine control is via a single RS232 link.
Many files in the Genesis package refer to QPlacer as "RV5".

Here are the links to Genesis v1.08 and PXC installation packages I have found on the PC it came with:
https://leobodnar.com/qplacer/Genesis-1.08.zip
https://leobodnar.com/qplacer/PXC.zip

Does anybody use it? Does anybody have any info on it?

Cheers
Leo

[LeoBodnar]

Here are some training videos I have managed to convert from Genesis installation package.
They only cover BOM and Gerber import and matching components to Gerbers.
Sadly, further operations (PCB references, Step and repeat, Feeders assignment, PNP Setup, Placement, Inspection) are not covered in any help materials I could find.

Leo

Converting BOM
CAD file Programming
Loading Gerbers 1
Loading Gerbers 2
Tracks To Pads
Gerber Placement
CAD Placement
Creating Package Type

[Mike]

I don't know anything about Qplacer but Wouldn't sueprise me if there are similarities to the earlier RV1s/4s so could be worth looking through the documenation for that

[sixexe]

Hi Leo,

I am using a Qplacer which I obtained a couple of years ago as a replacement for my RV4s which I still need to sell to free up some workshop space.  I had no more info than the incomplete help files but got it running fairly quickly through trial and error.  The Qplacer is now in regular use.  Have you got the Qplacer moving yet?

[LeoBodnar]

We had to do quite a few repair jobs, e.g. one side of the conveyor clamp mechanism was broken.
I have also redesigned the moving head PCB to get brighter lighting and tidy up the original desgn (that looks more like a prototype). Small component (right) camera illuminator is running so hot you can see smoke streaming from it when it's on for more than 10-20 seconds.

We have not assembled a single PCB with it yet. Still trying to comprehend how dozens of different correction and adjustment axes and machine parameters work together.

What we have found is that it's a no go area for anything metric. Step and repeat truncates your board step value to integer mm before converting to mils. So if your board is 20.4mm tall and you have 10 of them stacked up you will end up with 4mm component offset on the last board.

Leo

[Gopher]

Fascinating, I genuinely think bits of that software would have been commercially viable to sell as a standalone product to assist with setting up any pick and place machine. You can see its origins in RVGerber/RVSetup and you can see clear steps forwards.
 
It's a long time ago now, but to my recollection while VSMT went on for a few more years, Qplacer never seemed to get the traction the RV's got and then attention moved Flexiplace and Vivo systems at least one of which it seems was actually a rebadged machine.

I think the numbers of all the post RV machines are very low. I recall being given the contact details of one user to discuss their experience, which was interesting, what they said was not positive.

[sixexe]

Leo, very Interesting what you said about step and repeat, I have found similar errors but I never found the reason, just compensated for it by applying offsets.  If you need any specific info from a working Qplacer just let me know.

Gopher, much prefer the Qplacer to the RV4s I purchased from you. I think the Software is a great improvement although it doesn't recover from hardware errors quite so well.  A missed tool load requires closing and re-opening the software then re-initialising the machine.

[LeoBodnar]

Thanks a lot for the offer sixexe - we definitely want to get in touch and share the [non]working knowledge. Could you please emeail me at leo@leobodnar.com to establish direct line of contact?

We have a few things on the go:

• replacing nozzle tips with Juki 5xx series ones
• swapping the cameras for tiny SONYs
• integrating Siplace S series feeders

Our QPlace has nice mechanical construction with solid motion base but is let down by unreliable feeders, vision and software quirks

Leo

[trev]

Just some input on feeders. The Rv feeders for the most part are okay for paper tape but are just not reliable for anything else. They are terrible. They are just not reliable enough.

In the end I designed a conversion board and my machine now supports Yamaha CL feeders. These are brilliant and it's meant I can turn the machine on and just get on with populating boards rather than wondering if a feeder is going to mess me around for an hour.

It's taken a bit of time to fine tune the setup for the CL feeders but it's definitely worth it.

They do take up more space though than the Rv feeders. Maybe 7 cl feeders take up the same space as Rv feeder.

[fredob]

Hi all, Ex Qplacer user here. We still have the machine but it is in non-working order. The head won`t initialise on boot up. We think its one of the boxes underneath that is faulty and will probably be disposing of it at some point. Obviously I can take tools etc off if anyone is in need of anything. Or if you`re passing you can take the whole thing.

I spoke to sixexe (I think) last week so he gets first dibs!

If you want to get in touch for my limited knowledge or parts then feel free. We`re based in Darwen Lancashire

on-board@btconnect.com
01254 771497

Cheers

Russ

[LeoBodnar]

I had a good look into the software operation and hardware interaction.
The boxes are serving as a multiplex and translator for the commands set by the PC software to separate axis controllers.
Boxes have both motor drives and about 20 Philips micro controllers that serve as endpoint clients in a sort of custom control bus arrangement.
We'll be happy to take whatever is left of it.
Leo

[LeoBodnar]

We have managed to make Siplace S series feeders work with QPlacer - just needed a command translator from RV4 protocol to Siemens.
https://www.leobodnar.com/qplacer/Siplace%20feeders%20with%20QPlacer.mov
Leo