This paper introduces a new type of mechanical tape feeder for chip mounter. The mechanical feeder is composed of a pneumatic linear actuator and a linear feeding module with the application of a cam-slider. As semiconductor chips are getting smaller, PCB assembly makers require the feeder to position the chip with high accuracy. The linear feeding system improves the positioning accuracy of the chip by getting rid of the index error, which brings into existence on the sprocket rotating feeder. It also can make greatly reduce the dumping rate. The dumping error is caused by the impact occurred as the pawl to interrupt ratchet wheel rotation. The paper discusses its mechanism and mechanical performance. The positioning accuracy and the dynamic characteristic were measured for long time operation and analyzed. As a result, the feeder showed very good performance. However, the feeding system was dynamically unstable due to the cover film eliminator that is required to be modified
