SBIR-STTR Award

This submittal extends application of robotics and automated factory techniques to the repair of electronic printed circuit boards. In_ creases in performance, quality assurance, and reliability unfortunately have not resulted in failure free systems. In order to function the navy must support an extensive and expensive maintenance program. Many of the repair processes are very labor intensive, requiring highly specialized training and are sometimes very hazardous. An example of this is the removal of conformal coatings from electronic printed circuit cards. In this SBIR submittal maintenance requirements inc. (MRI) proposes to determine the feasibility of applying robotics technology to the problem of conformal coating removal and to structure a pilot program to demonstrate the concept. The work will be done by the same key individuals who developed and implemented the navy-wide miniature microminiature (2m) repair program.

In this Phase II effort Maintenance Requirements Inc. (MRI) proposes to develop and demonstrate hardware to apply robotic and automation technologies to the repair of electronic printed circuit cards. MRI will develop and perfect techniques, hardware, and software that will automatically remove conformal coatings from electronic printed circuit boards. It will conduct experiments automating the removal of defective dual-in-line packaged components from electronic printed circuit boards. A prototype system will be developed and built to demonstrate all of the concepts involved in conformal coating removal. The prototype unit will be designed to operate safely, reliably, and effectively at military and commercial electronic repair depots. If component removal experiments are favorable, techniques to do this will be incorporated into the system. The technical work and field evaluations performed will serve as a basis for a Phase III effort to automate electronic printed circuit board repair processes at a greater many military and commercial electronic maintenance activities.