A low-cost solution for automated solder paste application

In electrical and computer engineering, prototyping is a process through which an original concept is represented in a physical system. Creating such a prototype might only necessitate the use of a soldering iron, but specialized equipment can facilitate or in some cases be requisite for complex designs and smaller component packages. This equipment, however, can be prohibitively expensive. This paper proposes a machine which eliminates most of the above issues, a computer numerically-controlled (CNC) solder paste dispenser. To apply solder paste to a design, the machine uses a X/Y gantry to precisely position a syringe of paste and dispense a measured amount.