Different types of production line equipment, such as PCB assembly machines, CNC machines, lathes, and extrusion devices, require regular maintenance and calibration to ensure accurate and functioning finished products. Workers with attention to detail examine products, and each machine is managed and adjusted by qualified personnel. Most electronic products have PCBs, and CNC machines create mechanical parts with precise dimensions for mass production. Lathes rotate items for cutting and shaping, while extrusion equipment uses molten plastic to create objects. Workers should be comfortable with computers as most machines are controlled by software programs.
There are many types of production line equipment, including printed circuit board (PCB) assembly machines, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, lathes, and extrusion devices. Each machine must be checked and calibrated to make the product needed for distribution; poorly maintained machines often generate inaccurate and malfunctioning finished products. Workers with great attention to detail normally examine all products that are formed by their particular machine.
Most finished electronic products, such as a cell phone, have some form of PCB within their internal structure. As a result, many manufacturing facilities need to have production line equipment capable of creating a board from raw materials. The board must have a solder paste machine apply its circuit paths, while another device picks up and places the electronic components on the newly created solder pads. PCBs must enter a reflow oven to melt solder with components; after that, the board is thoroughly tested with an optical bond testing machine.
CNC production line equipment creates mechanical parts for miscellaneous items such as vehicle axles and bicycle frames. An operator programs the machine using computer commands; the machine responds by drilling or cutting a piece of raw material, such as metal, into a specific shape. These computer controlled machines produce a part with precise dimensions for mass production. For example, more vehicles can be produced in a single day with rapid part production versus a manual milling manufacturing strategy.
Lathes are specialized pieces of production line equipment that rotate an item into a horizontal position. This spinning action holds the raw material item in a fixed, horizontal position so it can be smoothed or cut. For example, a wooden dining table leg can be placed on the lathe so that intricate shapes can be cut into the wood for an aesthetically pleasing look.
Extrusion production line equipment uses molten plastic forced through a nozzle to create objects, such as device housings. An operator must monitor and adjust the machine so that the plastic material stays within a specific temperature range, allowing it to flow smoothly through the extrusion process. Any bad items coming out of the machine, such as housings with multiple holes, should be sealed off and the operator should stop and troubleshoot the machine until the problem is fixed.
Each machine in the production line is managed and adjusted by qualified personnel. Workers must periodically check and calibrate the machine for the best product yield. In general, these employees should be comfortable with computers as most machines are controlled primarily by software programs.
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