Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment

What is Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)?

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment are machines that perform automatic visual inspection of printed circuit boards and their mounted components. These machines incorporate advanced optics, cameras, and image processing software for imaging inspection. They generally have a camera that autonomously scans the device under test for both board and component quality defects. They are commonly used in the manufacturing process because they enable non-contact methods of PCB testing. These machines are integrated into various levels of the production process, including bare board inspection, pre-reflow, post-reflow, etc.  

Some of the features inspected by AOI machines include the presence or absence, size, color, shape, alignment, and pattern of components. Each component in real-time is matched against certain design criteria of the manufactured products. Systems that are integrated with post-reflow AOI inspect PCBs by detecting conditions such as open circuits, short circuits, solder shorts, excessive solder, and misplaced or wrong components. 

Key Parameters of an AOI Equipment: 

• PCB Size: Range of PCB sizes that the machine can inspect, measured in millimeters. 
• Camera: The resolution (in megapixels) and type of camera used in the AOI machine, which adversely affects the quality of the inspection. 
• Resolution: The smallest detectable defect size, typically measured in micrometers (µm), determines the machine's inspection precision. 
• Field of View: Area covered by the camera during inspection, measured in millimeters. 
• Lighting Source: The type of lighting used, such as LED, infrared, or ultraviolet, influencing the visibility of defects on the PCB. 
• Inspection Speed: The rate at which the AOI machine processes and inspects PCBs, measured in boards per hour.
   
  

PCB Directory has listed automated optical inspection machines from the leading manufacturers in the industry and made it easy for users to find these machines based on their requirements. You can specify the camera, resolution, and defect analysis to find equipment that meets your requirements. You can also view machine specifications, download the spec sheet, and get a quote. Quotes requested are routed to the manufacturers.

Click here to explore AOI Equipment manufacturers.