Lines
Spare Nozzle
Replacement nozzles keep the pick head matched to the component body, vacuum demand, and placement speed. South African SMT teams use them to sort out worn tips, size changes, or unstable pickup on a known board.
Nozzle wear on active lines
The Spare Nozzle page is for replacement nozzles used on SMT pick-and-place heads. It helps a South African production team match the nozzle to the machine and component size before ordering. Use it when the board is known and the issue is simply keeping placement stable on the line.
A spare nozzle matters when pickup starts failing on small chip parts, odd-form packages, or fine pitch ICs that need steady centring. Tip diameter, body length, seal condition, and machine compatibility all need to match before stock is ordered. Coastal humidity around Durban can affect storage condition, while inland dust around Gauteng often shows up first as poor vacuum consistency on the head.
Check the fitted nozzle before removing it from the machine. Record the nozzle code, head position, and the component reference that is mis-picking so the replacement is not guessed from memory. On lines running mixed product, one incorrect tip can cause rotation errors, dropped parts, or repeated vision rejects across the shift.
Details to verify first
Confirm the machine model, nozzle family, and the part sizes being placed with that head. Include whether the issue is wear, blockage, bent geometry, weak pickup, or a change in component package from the current BOM. Clear information helps separate a simple nozzle replacement from a feeder, vacuum, or vision setting problem.
Use the nozzle record alongside Lines, Reflow, and Board notes when a placement fault may involve more than one stage. SMT line enquiries should name the board type, the placement volume and the machines already on the line. A short note on the affected component range is more useful than a general fault description.
- Nozzle code matched to machine
- Tip wear checked under magnification
- Component size range noted clearly
Checks for South African sites
Storage conditions matter when spare nozzles sit in a parts room through dry inland dust or salty coastal air. Keep replacement tips capped, labelled, and away from loose debris that can mark the tip face or affect the seal. On older lines, it also helps to verify holder wear and vacuum pipe condition before blaming every pickup error on the nozzle itself.
Power interruptions can break the pattern of first-off checks, so nozzle condition should be reviewed again before restarting a paused job. At contract manufacturing sites handling many short runs, spare nozzle stock is easier to control when common sizes are separated from special tips for connectors, LEDs, and larger IC packages. A quick visual check for chips, polish wear, or residue often explains unstable placement faster than repeated machine resets.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Information needed for ordering
List the nozzle part number, machine brand, head type, and the component family it must place. Add any symptoms seen on the line, such as dropped 0402s, side pickup, poor centring, or repeated nozzle clean alarms.
If the original nozzle marking is unreadable, provide a clear photo next to a scale or ruler and note the board section where the fault appears. It also helps to mention whether the replacement is for routine stock, breakdown support, or a product change that needs a different tip profile.
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