Krassy Petkov Interview Inside - Milara, Inc.

InterviewInterview—Krassy Petkov,Milara Inc.Milara are one of these dark horses that have beenfermenting with a range of out-of-the-box technologiesthat turn a mundane stencil printer into a multi-featuredhigh-precision printing machine with simultaneousinspection. Trevor Galbraith caught up with theinventor and president, Krassy Petkov, as he prepares tounveil his latest machine at APEX/IPC Expo inLas Vegas.Q1. I believe you are launching theTouchprint Digital TP2929 at APEX.Why digital?Utilizing the latest in digital motioncontrol network drive systems in conjunctionwith our progressive scan digital visionsystem, we thought this would be the perfectcombination of technologies to launchout printer control platform. We now havecontrol over all parametric functions of thevision system that allows us to eliminateoptical components such as F-stops andanalog lighting controls.Q2. The original Touchprint had somerevolutionary features, such as the vibratingsqueegee and the ultrasonic underscreencleaner. Are these still included inthe new version?Yes, our patented vibration squeegee andbottom-side ultrasonic cleaning systemsare still viable components in this newplatform.Q3. I understand this new printer is fittedwith SimuTech technology. What is it andhow does it work?SimuTech is a new ‘buzz term’ we want tointroduce to the industry. It allows us toperform multiple concurrent operations or‘simultaneous functions,’ a feature that allother printers lack. We will be able to printAND inspect, bottom side clean ANDinspect, bottom side clean and load thenext PCB, inspect AND inspect (becausewe have two linear servo overhead cameragantries), print AND dot dispense, inspectAND dot dispense, bottom side wipe ANDdot dispense.SimuTech simply allows processing oftwo PCBs simultaneously, which currentdesigns and triple track systems simply donot.Q4. One of the unique features in theoriginal Touchprint was its dot dispensingcapability. How has this improved?We have partnered up with Asymtek whobrings new Piezo electric dispensing headtechnology. We have successfully integratedtheir new SV-100 solder paste dot dispenser,which boasts many new advantages,such as greater speed than conventionalauger type dispensers, dot and line deposition,compatibility with all flavors of solderpaste and ability to dispense less than 300µm dot diameters to name a few.Q5. Have you been able to reduce cycletimes in the new printer?Concurrency is the key. Over the years inlarge volume applications, solder paste dispensingand the bottom-side cleaner werenot taken into consideration for overallproduction throughput. Today that is adifferent story. With SimuTech, this willeliminate the tack-time addition of bottomsidewiping, and with our new ‘dispensewhile you print’ paste dispenser, we canreplenish the paste bead while printing.The addition of our linear servo motiontechnology also gave us a significant speedboost when performing camera inspectionroutines. Also, having a quad-core processorcertainly helps reduce cycle time when38 – Global SMT & Packaging – March 2009www.globalsmt.net

Interviewperforming all the arduous mathematicaloperations and image processing for ourtexture-based 2D post print inspection.Q6. The Touchprint has a cast iron base.Why did you feel it was necessary to usesuch a heavy frame?SimuTech requires multiple axes operationduring the cycle. After a finite elementanalysis (FEA) of our original steel framestructure, we found it to be insufficientwhen we applied multiple axis movementat sub-ten second production rates, especiallywhen factoring in the high performancelinear servo movements in opposingdirections.Q7. Have you also upgraded the motorsand drives?As stated previously, on the major highspeedaxes we have incorporated linearservo motion technology with linearfeedback to give us real world positioning.We are controlling all motion with a digitalservo network that is proprietary to ourproduct.Q8. At which markets and applications isthe Touchprint targeted?All SMT markets will be our main targets,along with solar and possible applicationsin the semiconductor wafer printing/bumping fields as well.Q9. You have a large robotics factory inBulgaria. How much of this machine isbuilt in Eastern Europe and how much inthe USA?We have recently completed our 107,000square foot state-of-the-art facility in Plovdiv,Bulgaria. We are equipped to producehigh precision robotic components in conjunctionwith general automation designs.In fact we will be rolling out four newwafer handling robots at SEMICON Westthis year. A major portion of this factorywill be dedicated to producinge all highprecision components and sub assembliesused for the TouchPrint, which includesthe main frame and skins. Final assembly,validation and verification will be done atour facility in Massachusetts, USA.Q10. Do you have many innovations indevelopment to take the Touchprint tothe next level?This is one of those tricky ‘fortuitous’ questionsin which I don’t want to upset ourengineering teams by giving out all of ourideas. All I can say at this point is that bystaying with our original concept back in2004 of ‘combined system technology’ weare also going to introduce jet dispensingin our TouchPrint platform. Like Mercedes,they make one of the finest automobilesin the world—do you think they don’thave new ideas for the next generation?Q11. Do you have plans to introduce amodel for the solar cell market?Solar, definitely. We want to jump intothat market along with the rest. Large PCBfor new blade server technology is anothervenue for us but I don’t want to give outall our plans to our competition.Q12. Manufacturers of printers are beingseverely hit by the current downturn.Why are you releasing this machine now,and what makes you think that Milaracan beat the recession better than, say,DEK or Speedline?You know, someone of importance onceasked me that question a few years back.In fact, they actually told me not to “wastemy money” and to go invest it elsewhere.This was very inspiring to me, for I turnedit into a motivational inspiration that iskeeping me in the game today.I have hobbies, which I consider asport. In this sport, I have been in twoOlympics and heading to my third. Thissport teaches me how to win. To do so, Ineed diversity within my company to bringa variety of new and innovative ideas whichhelp generate new products.We build the number one robot forthe United States Army, saving numerouslives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Weare financially strong and unaffected bythis ‘media generated’ recession. We haveno loans and do not rely on credit fromany good or ‘failed’ banks. We are highlyexperienced in robotics for not only themilitary but commercial industries too. Wedesign and build printers for the SMT andsemiconductor industries, and the later hasbeen the most painful. However, we willNEVER give up until we are number one.Krassy Petkov—thank you very much fortalking to us today..Trevor Galbraith.What’s in 12 months ofGlobal SMT & Packaging?• Leading-edge technical articles• The montlhly Global MarketReport from Walt Custer &Jon Custer-Topai• Insightful columns by regularsJoe Fjelstad, Bob Willis andWerner Engelmaier• Case studies and factory visits• Interviews with industry leaders• Coverage of major industrytrade shows and events• Industry news• Highlights of the newestproducts and technologies• Coverage of the GlobalTechnology AwardsSave hundreds!Subscribe now foronly $70/year.http://subscribe.globalsmt.netwww.globalsmt.netGlobal SMT & Packaging – March 2009 – 39