Material Serialization#

Overview#

The Material Serialization feature provides a framework for assigning unique identification codes to PCB panels and boards at various stages of the manufacturing process. By utilizing specific Smart Tables, users can determine exactly when and how materials expand into smaller units during track-in or track-out operations.

The system supports multiple configurations, including Special Mode, which allows for two levels of serialization to occur simultaneously within a single production step.

This level of traceability ensures that every individual component is accurately tracked from the initial SMT line through to final assembly. The flexible setup also accommodates both internal name generation and external naming conventions to suit different factory requirements.

Pre-Conditions#

Before using Material Serialization, the following conditions must be met:

• Enable the following global Configurations:
  • /SMT/MaterialSerialization/ – enables the Material Serialization feature
  • /SMT/MaterialNameGeneration/ – enables the ability to generate names for the materials
  • /SMT/MaterialAutomaticLabelPrinting/ – enables the label-printing functionality of this feature
• Define the relationship through the Material Form Generic Table between parent and child materials.

Concept#

When a Material is tracked-in or tracked-out, the table SMTMaterialExpandContext is resolved and based on that context the Material is Expanded. Then if the columns:

• IsExternalNaming equals False
  • The table SMTMaterialNameGenerationContext is resolved and based on that context a Name Generation is assigned to the Material Expand Operation that will be performed

Smart Tables#

SMTMaterialExpandContext#

This table defines when and how material expansion occurs.

Table fields:

• Expand Step – Step where expansion occurs
• Parent Form – Parent material form
• Child Form – Child material form
• Sub Child Form – Sub-child material form
• Expand Operation – Track-In or Track-Out
• Is External Naming – External vs internal naming
• Expansion Factor – Number of child materials
• Sub Expansion Factor – Number of sub-child materials per child
• Detach Step – Optional panel-to-board detachment step
• Position Mapping – Assigns positions to sub-materials
• Is Special Mode – Enables two-level serialization in one step

SMTMaterialNameGenerationContext#

This Table defines which Name Generator is applied to expanded materials when internal naming is used.

Table fields:

• Step – Step where Name Generator is called
• Customer – Define the Manufacturer
• Product Group – Define a Group of Products
• Product – Define Product
• Form – Material form
• Operation – Triggering Operation (AddItemsToPackingContainer, ClosePackingContainer, ExpandMaterial, OpenPackingContainer, StartMaterial)
• Name Generator – Define the Name Generator to be used
• Label Validation Mask – Expression used for validation

SMTMaterialPrintableDocumentContext#

This Table defines which labels are printed for serialized materials and which operation triggers printing.

Table fields:

• Step – Step where to print a Printable document
• Customer – Define the Manufacturer
• Product Group – Define a Group of Products
• Product – Define Product
• Flow – Step Flow
• Material – Material Name
• Material Type – Material Type
• Material Form – Material form
• Operation – Triggering Operation (AddItemsToPackingContainer, AutomaticAssemble, ClosePackingContainer, Expand, MoveNext, OpenPackingContainer, Serialization, TrackIn, TrackOut)
• Label – Define the Printable Document to be used
• Synchronous Printing – Indicates whether the Print should be Synchronous