SMEMA integration: what it means in practice
What SMEMA handshaking actually does between machines, and the two things to check before assuming equipment will connect.
SMEMA is the electrical handshake that lets adjacent SMT machines tell each other a board is ready to pass and ready to receive. It is what allows equipment from different manufacturers to form a continuous line without custom integration, and it is a signalling standard rather than a mechanical one.
What SMEMA does
Two signals in each direction: machine ready, board available. That is enough to sequence a line without a central controller.
It says nothing about board size, height or speed — only about readiness.
The two things it does not solve
Pass line height. Two SMEMA-compatible machines at different heights still will not pass a board. This is the most common integration mistake.
Board envelope. Width adjustment range and thickness capability must overlap across the line.
Practical checks before ordering
Measure the pass line height of the machines either side.
Confirm minimum and maximum board width and thickness at every station.
Confirm the connector and signal convention with the supplier.
Commonly asked
Will your conveyors connect to our existing line?
SMEMA handshaking is standard across our handling range, so signalling is not the issue. Confirm pass line height and board envelope and the connection is normally straightforward.
Get the answer for your actual part
A guide can only take you so far. Send us the board, the fluid or the fastener and we will run it, film it, and come back with cycle times and a quote.
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