Soldering optical inspection
Automated soldering optical inspection (AOI) for quality control becomes the main issue in all manufacturing processes to ensure effective functioning of the products and achieve the zero defect goal. However, most of the quality controls use a 2D camera and are limited to pattern or colors recognition, which is not sufficient for many applications and especially for solder joint quality.
As a specialist in selective soldering technologies, we developed a complete and very performant 3D inspection solution for quality controls. We combine a 3D sensor with our mta well-proven platforms and MotionEditor software, using a cartesian 3-axis robot. This enlarges the possibilities to almost all kind of quality controls.
The main features of the soldering optical inspection system include:
- Accurate and fast 3D image & 2D monochrome image acquisition at the same time
- Wide range of 3D and 2D tools for all type of inspection
- Pattern projection from 2 different directions providing minimal shadows influence
- Control sequence and programming supply by our expert with dedicated HMI
- Easy handling with a simple sequence of joint inspection related to vision recipes
5 benefits compared to traditional cameras
- Reproduction of the solder joint in 3D.
- Precise measure of the part.
- Cross section and analysis of the profile.
- Only one sensor instead of two or more cameras to analyze the solder’s meniscus.
- Standard software for each application.

Available platforms
-
MRC500 soldering robotic cell
Learn more Read moreThe mta MRC500 soldering platform for robotic soldering from above is a free-standing machine cell. Our design engineers purposes-built the MRC500 for soldering applications then standardized the design. We built our own platform so we would not need to compromise functionality based on the limitations of third-party equipment. Standardizing the design offers three primary advantages: it is well-proven, available faster and costs less than-off custom designs.
Although the design is standard, it is highly flexible. We designed the mechanical structure to work with a wide range of process equipment, material handling and guarding systems. In its basic configuration, the MRC500 is a free-standing, semi-automated machine. At the other extreme, we can outfit it with SMEMA conveyors, collaborative robots, rotary tables and many other systems. Likewise, our software engineers included flexible modules in our MotionEditor software to quickly integrate a wide range of standard and special options.
We can equip the MRC500 with any of our soldering heads: soldering iron, induction, or microflame. In the case of the MLH45 laser head, we equip the MRC500 specific to laser soldering with laser-safe guarding.
As properly designed heads are fairly heavy, the MRC500 is equipped with large DC stepper motors to provide sufficient strength to actuate the head quickly. The X, Y, and Z axis use robust ball-screw actuators for precise actuation. Repeatability of 20 microns assures the solder process is accurate and delivers consistent quality.
The main features of our MRC500 platform include: welded frame construction, 3-axis Cartesian robot with optional rotary axis at the head, 500x500mm working area, industrial PC controller with Embedded Windows® operating system and intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software.
6 reasons to choose the mta MRC500 soldering platform
- You need a larger work area (500x500mm).
- You need the y-axis overhead (the y-axis is in the base of the TR300).
- Your process is semi-automated, but you need a free-standing station.
- The production is inline and requires conveyors.
- Your process is offline, but you need another form of material handling (rotary table, collaborative robot, etc.).
- The enclosure is large enough to support additional process such as automatic optical inspection.
-
TR300 soldering table-top robot
Learn more Read moreThe mta TR300 is a table-top soldering robot platform. This robot is purpose-built and standardized for semi-automated applications that require point-to-point soldering.
The table-top platform is a cost-effective solution to automate existing hand-soldering processes without the cost of fully-automated systems. Automating the solder process has several advantages over hand soldering. It produces highly consist joints, improved quality, higher throughput and it requires less skill and training than hand soldering.
This table-top soldering robot platform is also ideal for applications where human dexterity is required to position the parts. Indeed, operators can load and unload the parts in offline fixtures to minimize machine downtime.
The main features of our TR300 platform include: sturdy aluminum frame, 4-axis soldering robot, 300x300mm working area, 0.02mm repeatability, industrial PC controller with Windows 10 operating system, intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software and air preparation & selectable 110/220VAC power connections.
Mechanical features
As the TR300 is a purpose-built solution, it can support any of mta’s soldering heads without compromise. The ball-screw axis and motors provide fast repeatable motion. Likewise, they are strong enough to support our heads that include our anti-jam wire feeder system and solder wire spool. There is no need to push solder wire through lengthy and problematic feed tubes. Therefore, the solder process is more accurate and reliable wire feed than feeding the wire long distances. Similarly, we pre-plumbed a large fume extraction hose with the nozzle located directly above the solder joint. Furthermore, light curtains and safety guarding are standard features. Lastly, the TR300 platform includes metal sides and door to protect operators with the laser soldering head.
5 reasons to choose the mta TR300 table-top robot
- The TR300 is the ideal platform for companies looking to automate current hand soldering processes.
- Your process is difficult to fully automate (e.g. you need human dexterity to load the parts.).
- Volume or product life do not justify fully automated production.
- The remaining processes are also off-line.
- The parts fit inside a 300x300mm work area.
See also our fully-automated MRC500 platform.
-
OEM soldering robot for integrator
Learn more Read moreThe mta OEM soldering robot for integrator can be used for semi or fully automatic operations of selective point to point soldering from above.
Thanks to its unique concept, the OEM robot is delivered to the system’s manufacturer with a process guarantee.
The OEM robot can be equipped with any of mta’s soldering heads: soldering iron, induction, microflame; except for the mta MLH45 laser head.
The 3 or 4 axes of the OEM robot are fully programmable through the mta-MotionEditor software, including soldering parameters such as:
- Solder quantity, wire feed speed, preheating/postheating times, automatic tip cleaning cycle intervals and other parameters for each soldered point.
With its flexible and modular concept, the OEM robot can be fully and easily integrated into a production line.
The main features of our OEM robot include:
- Welded frame construction
- 4-axis soldering robot, Y-axis in the base to also present parts to the operator
- 300x300mm or 500×500 working area
- Industrial PC controller with Embedded Windows® operating system
- Intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software
4 reasons to choose the mta OEM soldering robot
- The X, Y, and Z axis use ball-screw actuators for precise actuation with a repeatability of ±20 μm to assure the process is accurate and delivers consistent quality.
- Properly designed heads are fairly heavy, so large DC stepper motors are used that provide the strength needed to actuate the head quickly.
- The OEM platform offers a high flexibility in terms of mechanical and electrical integration i.e. it can be easily and securerly integrated into the customer’s machine.
- Intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software.

SMALL FIELD OF VIEW
- Image size in pixels 1’408 x 1’408 px
- Field of view X, Y, Z 12.5 x 12.5 x 3 mm
- Repeatability (σ) X, Y, Z 1 μm
- Acquisition distance Z 84 mm
- mta compatible platforms MRC500, TR300, OEM300 & OEM500
- HMI & quality control Specific to customer needs
LARGE FIELD OF VIEW
- Image size in pixels 2’048 x 2’048 px
- Field of view X, Y, Z 35.5 x 35.5 x 10 mm
- Repeatability (σ) X, Y, Z 2 μm
- Acquisition distance Z 84 mm
- mta compatible platforms MRC500, TR300, OEM300 & OEM500
- HMI & quality control Specific to customer needs
3D soldering inspection robot
PDF - mta_3D_soldering_inspection_robot_EN_10.2019.pdf / 2.2 mb

Available platforms
-
MRC500 soldering robotic cell
Learn more Read moreThe mta MRC500 soldering platform for robotic soldering from above is a free-standing machine cell. Our design engineers purposes-built the MRC500 for soldering applications then standardized the design. We built our own platform so we would not need to compromise functionality based on the limitations of third-party equipment. Standardizing the design offers three primary advantages: it is well-proven, available faster and costs less than-off custom designs.
Although the design is standard, it is highly flexible. We designed the mechanical structure to work with a wide range of process equipment, material handling and guarding systems. In its basic configuration, the MRC500 is a free-standing, semi-automated machine. At the other extreme, we can outfit it with SMEMA conveyors, collaborative robots, rotary tables and many other systems. Likewise, our software engineers included flexible modules in our MotionEditor software to quickly integrate a wide range of standard and special options.
We can equip the MRC500 with any of our soldering heads: soldering iron, induction, or microflame. In the case of the MLH45 laser head, we equip the MRC500 specific to laser soldering with laser-safe guarding.
As properly designed heads are fairly heavy, the MRC500 is equipped with large DC stepper motors to provide sufficient strength to actuate the head quickly. The X, Y, and Z axis use robust ball-screw actuators for precise actuation. Repeatability of 20 microns assures the solder process is accurate and delivers consistent quality.
The main features of our MRC500 platform include: welded frame construction, 3-axis Cartesian robot with optional rotary axis at the head, 500x500mm working area, industrial PC controller with Embedded Windows® operating system and intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software.
6 reasons to choose the mta MRC500 soldering platform
- You need a larger work area (500x500mm).
- You need the y-axis overhead (the y-axis is in the base of the TR300).
- Your process is semi-automated, but you need a free-standing station.
- The production is inline and requires conveyors.
- Your process is offline, but you need another form of material handling (rotary table, collaborative robot, etc.).
- The enclosure is large enough to support additional process such as automatic optical inspection.
-
TR300 soldering table-top robot
Learn more Read moreThe mta TR300 is a table-top soldering robot platform. This robot is purpose-built and standardized for semi-automated applications that require point-to-point soldering.
The table-top platform is a cost-effective solution to automate existing hand-soldering processes without the cost of fully-automated systems. Automating the solder process has several advantages over hand soldering. It produces highly consist joints, improved quality, higher throughput and it requires less skill and training than hand soldering.
This table-top soldering robot platform is also ideal for applications where human dexterity is required to position the parts. Indeed, operators can load and unload the parts in offline fixtures to minimize machine downtime.
The main features of our TR300 platform include: sturdy aluminum frame, 4-axis soldering robot, 300x300mm working area, 0.02mm repeatability, industrial PC controller with Windows 10 operating system, intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software and air preparation & selectable 110/220VAC power connections.
Mechanical features
As the TR300 is a purpose-built solution, it can support any of mta’s soldering heads without compromise. The ball-screw axis and motors provide fast repeatable motion. Likewise, they are strong enough to support our heads that include our anti-jam wire feeder system and solder wire spool. There is no need to push solder wire through lengthy and problematic feed tubes. Therefore, the solder process is more accurate and reliable wire feed than feeding the wire long distances. Similarly, we pre-plumbed a large fume extraction hose with the nozzle located directly above the solder joint. Furthermore, light curtains and safety guarding are standard features. Lastly, the TR300 platform includes metal sides and door to protect operators with the laser soldering head.
5 reasons to choose the mta TR300 table-top robot
- The TR300 is the ideal platform for companies looking to automate current hand soldering processes.
- Your process is difficult to fully automate (e.g. you need human dexterity to load the parts.).
- Volume or product life do not justify fully automated production.
- The remaining processes are also off-line.
- The parts fit inside a 300x300mm work area.
See also our fully-automated MRC500 platform.
-
OEM soldering robot for integrator
Learn more Read moreThe mta OEM soldering robot for integrator can be used for semi or fully automatic operations of selective point to point soldering from above.
Thanks to its unique concept, the OEM robot is delivered to the system’s manufacturer with a process guarantee.
The OEM robot can be equipped with any of mta’s soldering heads: soldering iron, induction, microflame; except for the mta MLH45 laser head.
The 3 or 4 axes of the OEM robot are fully programmable through the mta-MotionEditor software, including soldering parameters such as:
- Solder quantity, wire feed speed, preheating/postheating times, automatic tip cleaning cycle intervals and other parameters for each soldered point.
With its flexible and modular concept, the OEM robot can be fully and easily integrated into a production line.
The main features of our OEM robot include:
- Welded frame construction
- 4-axis soldering robot, Y-axis in the base to also present parts to the operator
- 300x300mm or 500×500 working area
- Industrial PC controller with Embedded Windows® operating system
- Intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software
4 reasons to choose the mta OEM soldering robot
- The X, Y, and Z axis use ball-screw actuators for precise actuation with a repeatability of ±20 μm to assure the process is accurate and delivers consistent quality.
- Properly designed heads are fairly heavy, so large DC stepper motors are used that provide the strength needed to actuate the head quickly.
- The OEM platform offers a high flexibility in terms of mechanical and electrical integration i.e. it can be easily and securerly integrated into the customer’s machine.
- Intuitive menu-driven mta MotionEditor software.