How to set everything up: assembly process 

The inspection platform KIT has been preassembled. Basically, you just need to insert the camera's mast into its vertical channel and connect the camera.

You will find, after opening the box containing the KIT´s parts, two square frames  as the ones shown below.
FRAME 2 is the base of the inspection platform. FRAME 1, the upper element of the structure. As indicated, everything has been pre-assembled as these images:

STEP 1:

Insert one of the 2040 aluminum rails inside the other in order to create the MAST.  The two lateral rail connectors will make it solid as a unique part. Tighten up the 4 bolts you they have.

STEP 2:

Insert both of the 40cm long 2020 aluminum rails as shown below. Push them to the very end and tighten the headless bolts while pushing.  

STEP 3:

Now, insert the MAST between the two triangular metal angle supports but keeping both nuts oriented, so you can slide, easily, the mast into its place. Do not completely tight the two side bolts, you need to leave them loose for now.

Do not completely tight the two side bolts, you need to leave them loose for now.

STEP 4:

Place the 3 white diffusers as indicated below. They will let you know what is the right height of the FRAME 2. With the KIT you got 3 light diffuser: 1x 50x30 cms (to be placed at the back of the inspection area) + 2x 40x30cms (they will be the laterals of the "inspection container"

STEP 5:

Insert the FRAME 1 sliding it using the mast as guide. The diffusers and frontal aluminum rails, will let you know the correct level of this FRAME 1.  Once set, tighten the bolts you will find in the back plastic part and the base bolts you left loose in the STEP 3. Detailed image below.

STEP 6:

The lateral LED panels have to be attached to the upper rails using the bolts already located in the blue plastic parts. Use the silver bolts to attach the LED panels to the plastic parts. You can pass the power cables through the gap you can find between the back and lateral diffuser panels.

If you got the micro-computer with your inspection platform KIT, you have to fix the trigger button provided to the base of the right aluminum rail using a bolt and NUT as the image. Do not fully tighten the bolt yet:

STEP 7:

Attach the camera to the ARM palstic part using a camera screw. Then, insert the ARM into the MAST and fix it using the lateral bolt. Done. The last step would be placing the ESD mat under the structure and connect the ground lead to any GROUND connection you have near the inspection platform.

Done. Now, once the inspection platform is set and ready, depending on the KIT you got, you will need to connect the camera to your computer or to the Raspberry 400 microcomputer. Select an option below:

1) I got the Inspection platform with the Raspberry PI 400 microcomputer
2) I will use my own computer / laptop to run de inspection software.

Connecting the platform to a computer 

The SONY camera will use a battery DUMMY, so it can be ON for unlimited time. That battery dummy needs a 5V and 3A power supply (provided with the KIT but you can use any other USB 3.0 port you have available). At the same time, the camera will be controlled from the computer, so use the provided High-speed 2m USB-micro USB cable to connect the camera to any free USB port of your computer/laptop (it has to be 2.0 or 3.0)

With this configuration, you will need to use the SONY remote software in order to control the camera. Find the link below.

1) Download + install  the SONY imaging Edge software (for Windows or Mac)

2) Do not connect the Camera to the USB port yet

3) Check that the Battery dummy is fully inserted. Connect it to a USB 3.0 port or to the 5V power supply and turn the camera ON

4) CAMERA: open the SETTINGS MENU pushing the MENU button and go to SETUP-> TAB "3" -> USB CONNECTION and select "PC Remote"

5) Set the photography settings to: M (12MP) for medium or small PCBs and L (24MP) for large PCBs (around 25x20cm)*. 

 *The neural network can process both image sizes, but the internet connection and integrity check operation will take more time to process larger images. So, if your PCB is about 10x15 cms, we recommend "M size" photos 

6) Go to MENU-> CAMERA SETTINGS -> GRID LINES -> SQUARE LINES.  Displaying lines on the camera’s screen will be useful when placing the PCB on the inspection area.

7) Connect the USB cable from the camera to the computer and launch the REMOTE app. A pop-up message will appear

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8) Select the ILCE-XX00 camera

9) In the REMOTE user interface, go to FILE-> SAVE FOLDER and select the folder in your computer where the photographs taken will be stored. It can be any location.

10) Try the system placing a circuit on the inspection area (are the light ON?) and take a photo clicking on the SHOT button

11) The CAMERA will automatically autofocus on the PCB surface

12) The VIEWER will appear after taking the photo. Here, you can zoom on the image using the mouse’s wheel. Check if all the elements on the PCB are in focus.

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IMPORTANT: all the PCB to be inspected have to be perfectly leveled. If the panel/circuit has a certain tilt angle, not all the elements shapes will be perfectly defined limiting the software recognition capacities.

To capture the whole dimension of the panel / circuit you are inspected, move the camera UP in the mast. For smaller circuits/ panel, move it down but never use digital zoom (this only can be done adjusting the camera via manual controls or adjusting the lens, which is not recommended)

Using the 50mm FE 1.8 Lens

If you got the SONY camera with the 50mm 1.8f fixed lens, follow these steps to set-up your system:

1)  Set the mode dial to A (Aperture Priority)

2) Select the value F7.1 by turning the control dial (right image). Setting the aperture to F7.1 will let you get the most detailed photos of your PBCAs

NOTE: Do not use the DIGITAL ZOOM with the 50mm optics system.  It will only artificially increase the size  of the digital image not adding real info to the photograph.

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If everything is fine, you will get highly detailed photographs of your PCBa. Above, example of two photos taken with the inspection platform. No shadows cast nor direct light reflections are present.

Connecting the platform to the Raspberry 400 computer 

With this configuration, the Raspberry 400 will be in charge of taking the photos using the best possible camera parameters.  The microcomputer will do everything for you. Just pushing the ACTION button, you execute almost all the steps of the inspectin process. 

First, you need to connect everything as indicated below:
1) Connect the 2m USB cable from the CAMERA micro-usb port to the raspberry USB PORT 1 (diagram below)
2) Insert the battery DUMMY into the CAMERA´s battery slot, and connect it to the provided 5V/3A USB power supply.​​

3) Plug both LED panels into 110 or 220V sockets. Both LED panels can be adjusted and turned ON/OFF using a single remote control (provided)
4) And connect the ACTION button to the Raspberry 400 PORT 2 (cable provided with connector)

5) Create a folder in the USB DRIVE (provided), named "PCB-OUT". The Raspberry 400 will continuously use that folder to store all the images of the inspections carried out. If it is not connected, the software will do the inspections but will not save the images anywhere.
6) Connect the Full-HD monitor to the micro-HDMI port and the mouse to the USB port indicated below.

DONE. 
The Raspberry 400 comes with an already programmed SD card with the latest version of the inspection software. To turn in ON, you just need to plug in the power supply connector or turn on the button of its power supply. The microcomputer Operating System (OS) will automatically start and the Agnospcb Inspection tool will be launched.

NOTE: the SONY camera has to be already ON before the Raspberry computer is turned ON, otherwise, you will need to restart the Agnospcb inspection software in order to be able to control the camera properly.

Click on the button below to know how to start using the inspection software.