Resources
Spec Card
A board-level spec card for South African SMT teams, covering machine, feeder, stencil and process basics without the fluff.
How Spec Card is used during the week
The Spec Card gives your team one place to record the board and process details needed for SMT line planning. It covers the machine setup, feeder requirements, stencil basics and other process points that affect placement and print work.
Record the board code, panel size, and planned run quantity at the top of the Spec Card. Then note any site conditions that affect print and placement, such as coastal humidity in Durban, dust on inland lines, or backup power limits. South African SMT teams often need one board-level reference before feeders are loaded and paste is on the stencil.
Add board photos while the product is still untouched, with one image of the top side and one of the underside if relevant. The card works best when machine settings, stencil details, and feeder calls are written down before a changeover starts. That makes handover easier on split shifts and reduces guesswork when the same job returns weeks later.
Spec Card details captured
A completed card gives production, process, and quality staff one place to check the essentials for that board. Include machine model, feeder count, stencil thickness, placement remarks, and any checks done on print quality or first-off placement. The aim is not extra admin. It is a usable record next to the SMT line.
Link the Spec Card to related board records only where they support the current build, such as reflow settings, inspection notes, or feeder maps. Before sending anything through the contact form, make sure the board identifier and machine used are included. If a stencil issue or placement offset was seen, note exactly where on the panel it appeared.
- Board code, revision, and panel count
- Stencil thickness and aperture remarks
- Feeder positions and nozzle requirements
Checks that matter on SA lines
Use the card to note conditions that change from site to site, not just the standard machine setup. Johannesburg and Pretoria plants may be dealing with dry dust around feeders and sensors, while Cape Town and Durban teams often watch moisture exposure, paste handling, and storage discipline more closely. Those details affect print stability, component presentation, and line preparation time.
Along the coast, salt air and fine grit shorten cleaning intervals for feeders, rails and optical sensors. Inland sites often deal with dry dust, which shows up first around cover seals and tape paths. After a power interruption, record oven status, paste exposure time and first-board results on the Spec Card before production resumes.
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What to note on the card
Use this Spec Card to capture board photos, process timing, and the parameter checks already done on the job. Keep the subject line plain and accurate.
Write down the parameters that another operator or process technician would need to restart the job without chasing extra messages. Good entries include support pin layout, fiducial remarks, paste type, rework flags, and any component that needed special pick height or vision adjustment. Keep the wording short, specific, and tied to the actual board on the line.