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www.us - tech.com


September 2026


Cut Tape Feeder Finger Technology Streamlines SMT Assembly


By Kelvin Wiley, President, Feeder Finger


waste and maintain consistent throughput across an increasingly diverse range of prod- ucts. Even relatively small improvements to feeder preparation can have an im- pact when repeated across multiple machines, shifts and changeovers. Cut Tape Feeder Finger technol-


H


ogy is designed to address one of these recurring challenges by simplifying the way cut tape and short component strips are processed on pick-and-place equipment. The leaderless feeding ac- cessory replaces the original tape guide on compatible OEM feeders and uses a plow-blade design to manage the cover tape as components move through the feeder. The result is a simpler approach to


loading cut tape without creating the extended cover-tape leaders traditional- ly required by many feeder designs.


Eliminating the Cover-Tape Leader


Preparing cut tape can be time-


A Cut Tape Feeder Finger installed on a Hanwha feeder eliminates the need for a conventional cover-tape leader.


igh-mix, high-speed SMT production places constant pressure on manufac- turers to reduce setup time, minimize


consuming, particularly when operators must manually create, extend or route a cov- er-tape leader before production begins. The process can also consume additional tape and components. The Feeder Finger addresses this by


folding and creasing the cover tape as the component tape enters the feeder. This al- lows components to be presented for place- ment without requiring operators to prepare a conventional leader. For manufacturers frequently working with partial reels or short strips, elim- inating those preparation steps can re- duce material waste while simplifying feeder setup.


Faster Changeovers The benefit becomes particularly


relevant in high-mix environments, where frequent changeovers can con- sume a significant portion of available production time. Instead of trimming, taping or ex-


tending leaders, operators can load cut tape directly into a compatible feeder equipped with the Feeder Finger. Reducing the number of manual preparation steps helps move feeders back into production more quickly while also limiting variation between operators. This approach can be especially


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