Neoden USA Featured in The October Issue Of SMT Today

As the electronics industry continues to evolve, manufacturers increasingly seek engineers who understand far more than circuit design. With an increasing shortage of engineers with practical manufacturing experience, universities are being challenged to rethink how they prepare students for post-graduation industry work.

SMT Today featured this critical shift in its October issue (Issue 82, pp. 66–68), highlighting how Michigan Technological University (MTU) is answering that challenge by creating a learning environment that mirrors modern electronics manufacturing. By partnering with NeoDen USA, MTU gives students hands-on experience with the same surface-mount technology (SMT) assemblies they'll encounter throughout their careers.

Founded in 1885, MTU has earned a reputation as one of the nation's leading engineering universities, producing graduates who excel in industries ranging from electronics and manufacturing to aerospace, automotive, defense, and semiconductor technology.

Through its Plexus Innovation Lab and newly established Electronics Hub, the university has created a comprehensive hands-on learning environment where students can design, manufacture, assemble, and test electronic products using equipment that closely mirrors modern production facilities.

As Professor Christopher Middlebrook, Ph.D., of MTU's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, explained:

"The Plexus Innovation Lab and the Electronics Hub are really about giving students the opportunity to learn by doing. Students can take an idea from concept to a working prototype by designing, building, assembling, and testing electronics using the same kinds of tools they'll see in industry."

He continued, "The Electronics Hub builds on that by exposing students to the entire product development process from circuit board design and manufacturing to assembly, testing, and packaging. Together, these spaces help students connect what they learn in the classroom with real-world engineering experiences so they graduate with the confidence, technical skills, and hands-on experience that employers in the electronics and semiconductor industries are looking for."

To support this vision, MTU looked for equipment that could replicate professional electronics manufacturing processes while remaining practical for an educational environment. It found what it sought in NeoDen USA.

Conveyorized Reflow Soldering: NeoDen IN6

Implementation: The university began its relationship with NeoDen USA in 2024 by purchasing two NeoDen IN6 conveyor reflow ovens for the Plexus Innovation Lab.
Process Advantages: Unlike traditional drawer-style reflow ovens often found in teaching laboratories, the six-zone IN6 conveyor oven enables a continuous manufacturing workflow, allowing multiple circuit boards to move through the reflow process efficiently while maintaining consistent thermal profiles. Designed for prototyping, low-volume production, and education, the system provides students with experience using equipment that closely resembles industrial manufacturing practices.
Optimization & Results: The university invested significant effort into understanding and optimizing the manufacturing process itself. Using a KIC SPS Smart Profiler and SRA Smart Reflow Analyzer, faculty characterized the IN6 ovens by developing optimized thermal profiles for various solder pastes and board configurations. Middlebrook noted, "That has helped us get very consistent results for a prototyping environment. Even though we occasionally see the normal variation you'd expect in a teaching lab, we've been very pleased with the overall performance."

Automated Component Placement: NeoDen YY1

Implementation: The success of the reflow ovens soon led MTU to expand its SMT capabilities with NeoDen YY1 desktop pick and place machine.
Performance & Flexibility: Designed to simplify automated component placement while remaining accessible for smaller production environments, the YY1 gives students experience programming and operating automated assembly equipment instead of relying solely on manual placement.
Precision: "The YY1 systems have also proven well suited to student training. They've been impressively accurate for student use," Middlebrook said. "We're primarily placing 0603 components through much larger packages, and the variable feeders make it easy to work with different component sizes without constant changeovers. That flexibility makes it much easier for students to move from design to assembled board efficiently and with good repeatability."

The addition of automated placement and conveyorized reflow has fundamentally changed how students experience electronics manufacturing:

Continuous Production Workflow: "The NeoDen IN6 reflow ovens have improved how efficiently students can work through the surface-mount assembly process," Middlebrook said. "The conveyor system allows multiple boards to move through a more continuous workflow, almost like a small production line. Rather than waiting for individual boards to complete lengthy reflow cycles, students can prepare subsequent assemblies while previous boards move through the oven."
Handling Complex Designs: "Combined with the pick-and-place systems, students can populate entire PCB panels rather than placing everything by hand," he said. "That not only speeds things up but also allows them to take on more complex designs with higher component counts. Overall, it's shifted the learning experience from a slow, one-board-at-a-time process to something much closer to how electronics are actually built in industry."
Eliminating Bottlenecks: The educational value quickly became evident, prompting the university to make one of its most significant decisions: purchasing duplicate systems. Rather than relying on a single reflow oven and pick and place machine, MTU now operates two of each, significantly increasing student access while eliminating equipment bottlenecks.

MTU's experience highlights why NeoDen SMT equipment serves as the ideal choice for academic labs and prototype facilities:

Industrial Capabilities at Academic Scale: NeoDen systems deliver the practical, real-world manufacturing capabilities needed for modern engineering education while staying within lab space and budget constraints.
Manufacturing & Quality Standard: Backed by a 27,000+ sq.m. factory with internal machining centers and TUV NORD CE approval, NeoDen ensures high placement accuracy and reliability for daily use.
Dedicated Support & Continuous Improvement: NeoDen provides life-long technical support, regular software updates based on actual end-user feedback, and a global partner network providing rapid technical response within 8 hours and solution delivery within 24 hours.

The partnership between Michigan Technological University and NeoDen USA illustrates how academic institutions can bridge the gap between theoretical engineering and practical manufacturing. By integrating industrial-grade SMT tools into the curriculum, MTU ensures its graduates are well-prepared to step directly into the high-tech workforce.

For Educators & Academic Labs: Looking to upgrade your university electronics lab with accessible SMT machinery? Explore NeoDen Educational & Prototyping Solutions
For Electronics Manufacturers: Seeking reliable, space-efficient SMT lines for prototyping and low-volume production? Request a Demo for NeoDen Pick and Place & Reflow Systems

A: MTU operates two NeoDen IN6 conveyor reflow ovens and two NeoDen YY1 desktop pick and place machines in its Plexus Innovation Lab and Electronics Hub.

A: The YY1 simplifies automated placement, handles components ranging from 0603 up to much larger packages without constant changeovers, and provides high accuracy and repeatability in a compact desktop footprint.

A: NeoDen provides life-long technical support, regular software updates based on daily user requirements, and has 40+ global partners ensuring responses within 8 hours and solutions within 24 hours.