How do I adjust the friction / tension on the tape feeders?

To adjust the friction and tension on the tape feeders, follow these steps:

• Adjusting the Friction with the Spring: The friction in the tape feeder is managed by a spring located underneath the feeder. To increase friction, you can remove the spring, bend it slightly upwards, and then reinsert it. Be careful not to bend it too much, as excessive friction can cause the needle to get stuck due to the paper not being released properly. 
• Adjusting the Tension with Torque Damping Rings: The tension on the tape feeder determines how hard it pulls on the cover tape to take up the slack. It should pull just enough to keep the tape taut  without advancing it too much. The tension is adjusted with torque damping rings, which are available in two sizes: thicker and thinner. The factory default is the thicker damping ring.
  • To reduce the pulling tension on the cover tape, replace the thicker torque damping ring with a thinner one.
  • If a single thinner ring does not sufficiently reduce tension, you can use both a thick and a thin ring together to further adjust the tension

By carefully adjusting both the spring and the torque damping rings, you can optimize the feeder’s performance, ensuring smooth and accurate component placement. Make sure to test the adjustments by running a few test cycles to verify that the tension and friction are correctly balanced for your specific tape.