Southern Machinery S-7020 Odd-Form Inserter: Automated Mixed Component THT Insertion

Product demo: the S-7020 odd-form inserter running a mixed-component THT insertion sequence — multiple non-standard parts handled automatically in one program.

Most THT lines still insert odd-form components by hand because the parts are too irregular for a standard radial or axial machine. The S-7020 odd-form inserter from Southern Machinery closes that gap: it handles a mix of different through-hole parts in a single program — transformers, relays, connectors, PIN eyelet terminals and other non-standard components — with the same repeatability as a dedicated auto inserter.

This buyer guide explains what the machine is used for, real application scenarios, how it fits a complete SMT/THT assembly line, the published specifications to evaluate, and the ROI and quality case from the buyer's perspective.

What is this machine used for?

An odd-form inserter automates the placement of through-hole components that do not fit standard tape formats — parts with unusual bodies, non-standard lead patterns, or terminals that must be pushed into plated holes and mechanically locked before soldering.

The S-7020 Series PIN Eyelet Terminal Insertion Machine performs the full sequence automatically: component feeding (from vibration bowl feeder or reel feeder), orientation, positioning over the board, insertion, and clinching (inward or outward lead bending) so each part is locked in place before wave soldering. Because two insertion heads work from the same program, a board carrying several different odd-form part types can be completed in one pass instead of moving between manual stations.

The demo video shows exactly this: a mixed-component insertion sequence where different part types are picked, oriented, inserted and clinched in rotation — the workload that normally forces EMS factories to keep a manual insertion bench on the line.

Buyers typically evaluate this machine when one of these conditions is true:

A growing share of the BOM is odd-form: transformers, relays, connectors, terminals, PINs, eyelets.
Manual odd-form insertion is the bottleneck between a fast SMT line and wave soldering.
Mixed boards force frequent changeovers and re-training of manual operators.
Insertion quality varies by shift — skewed components, missed holes, inconsistent clinching — driving rework and wave-solder touch-up.

Typical applications

Power supply and adapter PCBs — switching power supplies, chargers and adapters combine transformers, relay sockets, connectors and PIN terminals on one board; a mixed insertion program completes the THT workload in one pass.
Home appliance control boards — rice cookers, air conditioners, microwaves and induction cookers use relays, transformers and terminal blocks alongside standard through-hole parts; the S-7020 family has been demonstrated on rice cooker control PCB assembly.
LED drivers and lighting controls — LED driver, display and luminous-character boards where connectors and terminal blocks must be inserted reliably at volume.
Vehicle electronics — car audio and vehicle power-supply boards carrying odd-form connectors and terminals that must withstand vibration, which makes consistent clinching important.
Industrial controls and instruments — meters, timers and control boards with mixed terminal, eyelet and connector workloads that are impractical to automate with a single-purpose machine.

How it fits into a complete PCB assembly line

The S-7020 is the THT-side complement to an SMT line. A typical mixed-technology flow looks like this:

SMT placement — solder paste printing, chip placement and reflow for the surface-mount portion of the board.
THT and odd-form insertion — the S-7020 inserts connectors, transformers, relays, PINs and eyelets; radial-lead parts can be handled by the S-3010B Radial Insertion Machine, and other non-standard components by the S-70LD Odd-Form Insertion Machine.
Wave soldering — the assembled board passes through a lead-free wave soldering machine such as the S-WS450 or S-WS350B, where clinched components stay put and solder joints form reliably.
Inspection and cleaning — AOI/SPI (3D SPI AOI) verification, then PCB cleaning and depaneling.

Board handling systems, feeders, custom SMT nozzles and smart reel storage tie the stations together, and the whole line can be managed through MES for traceability. Because the S-7020 inserts and clinches mechanically, boards arrive at the wave solder with every odd-form component locked in position — fewer displaced parts, fewer solder bridges, less touch-up.

Key selection parameters

When evaluating an odd-form inserter for mixed component insertion, compare these published specifications and general categories:

Throughput — the S-7020 is rated at 12,000 CPH; confirm the rating basis with your actual component mix and program.
Number of insertion heads — the S-7020 ships with 2 insertion heads; head count affects how many component types can run in one cycle.
Board envelope — 380 × 280 mm standard PCB size, with enlarged sizes customizable; confirm your largest panel fits.
Component and terminal range — the S-7020 accepts terminal thickness from ≥0.5 mm to ≤1.2 mm; the insertion hole must be 0.5 ± 0.1 mm larger than the component lead.
Insertion angle — 360° rotation in 1° increments for lead orientation flexibility.
Clinch options — inward and outward clinching, selectable by program.
Feeding systems — vibration bowl feeder and reel feeder for bulk or reel-packaged terminals.
Programming and data import — online visual programming, visual correction, Excel data import and USB/manual entry reduce changeover time.
Precision — published motion accuracy of 0.001 mm/pulse and vertical error ≤ 0.8°; confirm with your most critical component.
Facility requirements — 220 V AC single phase, 50/60 Hz, 2 kVA; equipment size 1700 × 1300 × 1600 mm (2-head), weight approximately 1,200 kg.
Support and service — spare parts, training, retrofit and upgrade programs, and custom nozzle/gripper design.

ROI and quality perspective

The ROI case for an odd-form inserter is built on replacing manual stations, not on speed alone:

Labor reduction — one machine absorbs the workload of several manual insertion benches, and the operator's role shifts from inserting to loading feeders and monitoring.
Consistency — every component is inserted at the same angle, depth and clinch setting on every board, eliminating shift-to-shift variation.
Less rework and scrap — fewer skewed parts and missed insertions mean fewer wave-solder defects and less touch-up cost.
Floor-space efficiency — a compact 2-head machine replaces multiple benches and WIP buffers.
Changeover speed — visual programming and Excel data import cut program setup, which matters when you run mixed boards.

From a quality standpoint, mechanical clinching gives the wave soldering process a stable board: components cannot float or shift in the wave, which directly reduces solder defects on connectors, transformers and terminals.

FAQ

What is an odd-form inserter?

An odd-form inserter is an automatic machine that inserts through-hole components which do not fit standard radial or axial tape formats — transformers, relays, connectors, PIN eyelet terminals and other non-standard parts — into a PCB before soldering.

What is mixed component insertion?

Mixed component insertion means one machine program handles several different odd-form part types on the same board in a single sequence, instead of routing the board through separate manual or dedicated stations.

What components can the S-7020 insert?

The S-7020 Series PIN Eyelet Terminal Insertion Machine is designed for PIN eyelet terminals and other odd-form through-hole parts, with published support for terminal thickness from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm, fed from vibration bowl or reel feeders.

Does the S-7020 support clinching?

Yes. The machine performs inward or outward clinching, bending the leads underneath the board so components are mechanically locked before wave soldering.

What is the published throughput of the S-7020?

The S-7020 is rated at 12,000 CPH with two insertion heads. Actual production throughput depends on your component mix, board layout and program.

How do I get a quote or catalog for Southern Machinery insertion machines?

Contact Southern Machinery directly at jasonwu@smthelp.com. The full machine catalog is available at file.autoinsertion.com, and product images can be viewed at ph.smthelp.com.

Contact Southern Machinery

Southern Machinery Sales And Service Co., Ltd — a smart EMS factory partner for SMT, THT and PCB assembly automation, founded 2011 in Shenzhen, China, serving 237+ global customers across electrical appliances, power supplies, LED, vehicle electronics and general electronics manufacturing.

Email: jasonwu@smthelp.com
Product catalog: https://file.autoinsertion.com
Product images: https://ph.smthelp.com
Website: https://www.smthelp.com

Ask for the S-7020 specification sheet, a video of your component mix, or a line layout proposal that integrates the odd-form inserter with your SMT line, wave soldering and board handling.