Tube Feeder for ECM93

[Rochey]

Hello Folks,

I recently acquired an ECM93 from Manncorp. Great machine, great service, but only has one 16mm feeder. (needed for IC's).
Additional 16mm feeders are $495 each. (OUCH!)
I primarily make audio products, my first product will be a mic pre, where one of the IC's is $7 a peice! That gets expensive in reels, "reel" quick! (Geddit?)
I contacted Manncorp to get hold of a tube/stick feeder - they wanted $1500 for one. (OUCH!)
Hence, I decided that maybe I should DIY my own!

two questions

1 - has anybody already done this? Google turned up squat.
2 - I may set up a production flow for these if people are interested. Please let me know - it'll make the difference between making a proper PCB for control, vs veroboarding a solution

[mikeselectricstuff]

Stick feeders are basically just a platform to place the tubes on with a way to make them vibrate. Shouldn't be hard to improvise something, maybe with a pager motor. You do need a way to adjust the vibration strength, e.g. voltage on a pager motor.

[Rochey]

Stick feeders are basically just a platform to place the tubes on with a way to make them vibrate. Shouldn't be hard to improvise something, maybe with a pager motor. You do need a way to adjust the vibration strength, e.g. voltage on a pager motor.

Mike,

I came up with this design:

It allows me to change the angle depending on the device etc.

The pager motor can run up to 5V, so I have a circuit with NE555 timer driving a MMBT2222 NPN to drive it.
(much thanks to the Dallas Robotics group website... it proto'd first time on thru hole, and is now being SMD'd at OSHPARK.com)

[vincentp]

very nice design, that what I was actually planning, with a bigger rumbling motor under the whole stand.

On which machine is this feeder installed ? I was planning to install something on my MDC to give it a try but I first need to find on which connector grabbing the vibration info. The KPS output is indicated in the manual I just need to trace the signal on the right connector.
Anybody has done that on a 7722 ?