This three-part Tech Transfer series provides a comprehensive look at the seal schedule settings that control the start, middle, and end of a dispense process in SpotTool+ robotic dispensing applications. Understanding how these parameters interact is essential for achieving consistent bead quality, improving process stability, and reducing time spent on trial-and-error adjustments.
Throughout the series, we use the generic dispense process signal timing diagram from the SpotTool+ manual as a foundation for explaining the timing and flow control settings that influence dispensing performance. You'll learn how to optimize bead starts, maintain consistent flow throughout the dispense path, and create smooth, accurate bead endings while minimizing pressure fluctuations and process variability.
The series covers critical parameters including:
- Pre Pressure for controlling initial material flow and improving bead starts
- Gun On and Gun Off Anticipation Times for synchronizing valve operation with robot motion
- Equipment Anticipation Time for compensating for metering system response delays
- Seal Start and Seal End Offset Times for fine-tuning bead formation and transitions
- Flow Rate Settings for controlling bead size and material delivery
- Additional Anticipation Time, Correction Factor, and Correction Bias for improved accuracy during speed changes, corners, and complex path geometries
- The impact of TCP height and dispensing conditions on overall bead quality
Using practical examples and real-world application scenarios, you'll see how incorrect adjustments can lead to issues such as undersized or oversized bead starts, inconsistent flow, pressure spikes, poor corner performance, and stitching defects. You'll also learn proven techniques for combining these settings to achieve reliable and repeatable dispensing results.
Requirements
- SpotTool+ software configured for dispense applications
- Dispenser I/O properly mapped and verified
- Basic understanding of robotic dispensing systems and seal schedules
- Access to system configuration tools for making timing and flow adjustments
What You'll Learn
- How to interpret the dispense process signal timing diagram
- How seal schedule settings affect the start, middle, and end of a dispense
- Best practices for optimizing bead quality and placement accuracy
- Techniques for compensating for valve and equipment response delays
- Methods for maintaining consistent flow rates during speed and path changes
- Strategies for preventing pressure spikes and improving bead transitions
- How to troubleshoot common dispensing issues and reduce process variability
By the end of this series, you'll have a solid understanding of the key seal schedule parameters that drive dispensing performance and the confidence to optimize your own robotic dispense processes for greater accuracy, consistency, and efficiency.
