Conformal coating PCBs protect electrical components from dust, moisture, and other external elements. Spray-based conformal coating methods can be labor intensive because it requires maskings to protect components from overspray. Our new solution combines 3D automation and robotic brush coating to create a new, highly-efficient method of conformal coating.
Save Time – Use Less Material
“The Raphael 4040 saves us four minutes per board by eliminating masking, plus we use 3x less conformal coating material now with no overspray!”
-Tim Pratt, Agility Marketing
Detailed Overview
The Invention House team has researched the traditional spray, dipping, and manual conformal coating methods and has found a niche for a new type of automated conformal coating systems. The Raphael 4040 is a selective conformal coating robot that uses a 3D computer controlled, continuously supplied brush. Yes, a brush! The Raphael 4040 is a tabletop-sized robotic brush ideal for coating printed circuit boards (PCB) containing components that can’t be coated, including switches and connectors.
Protecting electrical components from dust, moisture, and other external elements is critical for guaranteeing the consistent operation of machinery. To provide an adequate shield, manufacturers add a layer of coating material that preserves a circuit board’s integrity through various weather conditions and temperature ranges. However, high-volume production is a lengthy process because applying conformal coating manually is tedious, requires expert knowledge of the device, and features cost-increasing tasks like cleaning, making, and inspecting equipment.
The Invention House team understands the challenges associated with traditional application methods. That’s why we developed our own selective conformal coating robot that streamlines the conformal coating process. The Raphael 4040 is a tabletop-sized robotic brush ideal for coating printed circuit boards (PCB) containing components that can’t be coated, including switches and connectors. Our machine automates conformal coating tasks and protects the board without requiring manual brushing and component masking. Utilizing a computer-controlled pump and brush applicator, the Raphael 4040 delivers a precise amount of conformal coating over a programmed path with accurate controls to within .0007 of an inch. Our automated machine features a user-friendly joystick and program that enables the brush to rise up and around critical pieces.
“The Raphael 4040 saves us four minutes per board by eliminating masking, which is a huge savings of time and material!”
-Tim Pratt, Agility Marketing
Watch: Conformal Coating without Masking
The Raphael 4040 eliminates human error during the coating process and protects operators from contacting hazardous materials and fumes. Reach out to Invention House to learn more about our automated conformal coating machines.
The conformal coating niche for the Raphael 4040 falls mainly into 3 categories:
If your company is spray-coating PCBs or panels, you know how labor-intensive that process is. The spray part is fast, but the pre and post-component masking, capping, and demasking destroy efficiency and profits. The Raphael 4040 eliminates all the waste and pre/post work required from conformal spray operations. The result is the financial, operational, and human benefits summarized below.
Watch: Conformal Coating without Masking
Fewer passes, fewer touches, no overspray, and happier operators all lead to higher quality.
Multiple extra board touches are eliminated by the Raphael 4040. With no need to mask, board touches are minimized. This keeps the boards clean and minimizes damage.
The Raphael 4040 produces lower total conformal coating costs by eliminating time-consuming masking and overspray waste. It also allows the conformal coating to be purchased more economically.
Operating conditions are dramatically improved by the Raphael 4040 because it removes the delay and tedium of masking. This eliminates work steps, reduces overspray, and prevents interactions with chemicals and cans.
Conformal coating paths are generated through a combination of two inputs: a joystick attached to the robot and Raphael Suite, our propriety software program. Using a combination of mouse, keyboard, and joystick moves, operators create optimimized coating paths that avoid keep-away areas. Single or multiple boards/panels can be held in the workspace. Conformal flow and brush speed can be controlled from point to point and from front to back to create an optimized and efficient conformal coating path for each PCB or panel.
Watch: Basic Path Programming
Watch: Multi-PCB Coating Run
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