1. BULK COMPONENT FEEDING Key drivers User benefits Issues & Barriers
Process
Production environment
Feeder designs
Components
Industry effort (Bulk Feeding Summit Group)
Bulk feeding methods
Universal bulk feeding solutions
GSM
HSP

2. The industry acceptance and growth of bulk feeding will present a win-win-win opportunity for all three parties...
Component suppliers
Equipment (machine/feeder) suppliers
Customers/users (OEM and CEM)

3. Key Bulk Feeding Drivers
Component Geometry Standards
(right now, there are none)
Improved feeder designs
(right now, there are many different ones)
Higher machine utilization
(right now, can be good.. or bad)
Issue resolution
(flipped resistor, component damage)
Success with Bulk Feeding
(depends on previous drivers)

4. Benefits of Bulk Feeding
Improved machine utilization
Faster / easier component replenishment
Increased line throughput
less maintenance
Increased factory capacity
Higher on-line component count
Reduced cost
storage / transportation
direct labor / material handling
component (unit)
Better for the environment (tape waste, etc.)
recycling opportunities
Better board quality (cleaner process)
solder joints
Lower component attrition rates
Better pick/placement accuracy

5. Issues & Barriers PROCESS ISSUES Resistors can be placed upside-down
Component polarity
Learning curve for production staff
Component verification / validation
PRODUCTION ISSUES
Feeder jams
Component quantity per package
Two part numbers (tape & bulk)
Mixing components in the feeder
Some CEM customers will not supply (consign) bulk parts
Component availability / limited suppliers
Bulk handling capability varies, vendor by vendor
FEEDER DESIGN ISSUES
Design template
Feeder track dimension tolerance
Speed
Reliability
Ability to handle resistor chips
Short mean-time to repair (clear a jam)
Machine upgrade / investment costs
COMPONENT ISSUES
Dimensional tolerances / standardized geometry
Component damage
Bulk component cost (versus taped parts)
Standardized packaging (case, bag, etc.)

6. Bulk Feeding Summit Group
Consists of:
Component suppliers
Equipment suppliers
Users (OEM & CEM)
Goals:
To agree on standards
component dimensions & tolerances
packaging (case, bag, hopper, etc.)
To develop supporting documents
“best practices” (to avoid component damage, optimize performance, etc.)
study/report focusing on the resistor “upside-down” issue
study/report focusing on the effect of moving & vibration on bulk fed components

7. HSP Bulk Feeder Development Status (April 1999)