High volume production can be easily achieved by operating multiple standalone programmers such as SP501S or SP5000E concurrently.Clustering programmers provides flexible, easy and cost effective way of volume production over traditional parallel programming. A setup could begin at 2 unit cluster and grow up to 15unit cluster.
In cluster programming, each unit (socket) operates independently of others. An operator will be busy removing programmed chips and inserting new chips. In optimally arranged setup there will be no idle time for the operator or the programmers.
In contrast, in the fixed socket parallel programming, all chips begin and end programming simultaneously. So, while chips are being programmed operator will be idled and while the operator is removing and inserting chips programmer will be idled.For example, if a chip takes 20seconds to program and operator takes 5 seconds to remove and insert a chip, 5 unit cluster setup will operate optimally without any idle time.
While the operator takes 20 sec to remove/ insert chips on 4 sockets, the 5th socket will have finished programming and be ready for the new chip to be inserted. On the other hand, 8 gang parallel programming will require 40 seconds (8sockets * 5sec) operator time and 20 sec program time.
In the 5 cluster operation, program time for each chip is 5 sec, which results in 720 chips/hr throughput. In the 8 gang parallel programming 8 chips are programmed in 60 sec, which yields 480 chip/hr throughput.
If a chip takes 5sec to program, then 2 cluster station will produce optimum efficiency at 720 chips/hr throughput. In the 8 gang parallel programming, operator time will be 40 sec and program time will be 5 sec yielding 640 chips/hr throughput.
Following conclusion can be made from above examples.
- In cluster operation, number of units can be adjusted according to program time of the chip providing optimum efficiency at the lowest cost for any environment.
- In the fixed socket parallel programming, there will always be wasted idle time and it will get worse if the program time of the chip gets less.
There are additional hardware considerations as listed below.
- In the cluster setup, only the defective unit can be removed and the rest will continue to operate. In the fixed socket parallel programming, any defect in a socket will require the entire unit to be sent back for repair.
- If any chip is found to be defective, parallel programmer will not Program/Verify/Blank Check any of the devices and you will get an error message. In the case of using cluster programmer which has modular design; only one module will stop where remaining modules will continue.
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