AOI Inspection Equipment Complete Maintenance Guide: Daily, Weekly and Quarterly Procedures

Why AOI Maintenance Directly Impacts Production Quality

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) equipment is essential quality control infrastructure in SMT manufacturing facilities. Proper operation and maintenance directly determine inspection accuracy and equipment service life. Equipment operation and maintenance are fundamentally interdependent: poor operational habits negatively affect maintenance outcomes, while inadequate maintenance causes operational failures. Both responsibilities must be treated equally.

Daily Maintenance Routine

Required Tools

• Clean wiping cloth
• Cleaning solution (non-organic solvent type)

Daily Procedure Steps

1. Verify ambient conditions: confirm voltage at 220V and air pressure within 0.4–0.6 MPa range.
2. Wipe machine exterior casing with cloth lightly dampened with approved cleaner.
3. Confirm working light signal indicators display normal status.
4. Verify rear cooling fan is operating normally.

Safety note: Never touch power supply sections or internal electrical components during routine daily maintenance.

Weekly Deep Maintenance

Required Tools

• Clean wiping cloths
• Vacuum cleaner (for dust extraction)

Weekly Procedure Steps

1. Execute normal shutdown sequence and disconnect main power.
2. Wipe and clean the entire equipment work platform surface.
3. Use vacuum cleaner to remove accumulated dust from filter mesh/grille.
4. Clean all external parts gently — exercise caution around electrical components to avoid damage from accidental contact or impact.

Note: Bi-weekly maintenance must include all daily maintenance tasks as prerequisite steps. Main power must be disconnected before beginning any weekly maintenance activity.

Quarterly Precision Maintenance (Includes Optical System)

Required Tools and Materials

• Clean wiping cloths and lint-free optical wipes
• Light source detection color reference card
• Appropriate wrench set
• High-quality precision lubricant and grease
• Oiling tools (oil gun, applicator tips)

General Quarterly Tasks

All quarterly maintenance must incorporate complete bi-weekly task set plus these additional precision items:

1. Execute normal shutdown and disconnect all power sources.
2. Clean accumulated dirt from motion track surfaces and X-Y lead screws.
3. Inspect conveyor belt integrity or lead screw condition for wear or damage.
4. Verify all internal circuit boards show no visible abnormalities (discoloration, bulging capacitors, damaged traces).
5. Check console connector security — ensure no loose connections.
6. Test X-axis and Y-axis motor operation for smoothness and proper response.
7. Verify board clamp mechanism functions correctly with consistent clamping force.
8. [Optical System] Inspect camera module and light disk assembly for physical condition.
9. [Optical System - Mandatory] Power on to test light source output for aging signs; check color degradation data against baseline.
10. [Optical System - Mandatory] Verify camera focal length has not shifted from calibrated position.

Precision Lead Screw Lubrication Technique

1. Execute normal shutdown and disconnect power completely.
2. Wipe dirty old oil from X-Y lead screws using clean white cloth.
3. Apply fresh high-quality lubricant to cleaned screw surfaces.
4. Remove dust and oil residue from workbench area.
5. Wipe black oxidized oil from both slide rails using dedicated wiping cloth.
6. Left track oiling: Locate oiling holes at front and rear of left track. Use oil gun to inject lubricant until just full (typically 3–4 pumps per hole).
7. X-axis slide rail oiling: Loosen cover screws on X-axis slide rail cover. Wipe black residue from exposed drive shaft. Locate front and rear oiling holes; inject lubricant until full.

Special case: Flat tracks without designated oiling holes require direct hand application of small, even amounts of lubricant onto the sliding surface.

Three Critical Maintenance Prohibitions

Prohibition 1: Never Use Compressed Air for Dust Removal

After power-off cleaning, never use an air gun to blow dust off the machine table. Air pressure forces dust and debris particles inward into equipment internals where they attach to lead screws, guide rails, and optical lenses — causing severe operational disruption that is difficult to reverse. Use vacuum cleaner or well-wrung damp towel instead.

Prohibition 2: Never Use Organic Solvents on Equipment Surfaces

Never wipe equipment exteriors with organic solvents such as PCB washing water or board wash chemicals. These solvents attack and permanently damage equipment paint finishes, leading to cosmetic deterioration and potential underlying corrosion.

Prohibition 3: Always Use High-Quality Lubricants

During quarterly rail and screw lubrication, only use genuine high-quality lubricants and greases. Inferior low-cost lubricants increase surface friction on lead screws and guide rails, dramatically shortening their mechanical lifespan and progressively degrading positioning accuracy over time.