New Tool for Coin Cell Assembly: Automatic Coin Cell Assembly System Boosts New Energy R&D

1. Introduction

In the rapidly evolving new energy sector, continuous development of novel materials necessitates comprehensive testing. Beyond routine physicochemical characterization (particle size, BET, XRD, SEM, etc.), preliminary electrochemical performance evaluation is critical for assessing materials and manufacturing processes. As a pivotal component in new energy R&D, coin cell batteries require precise assembly to ensure accurate material performance evaluation. However, traditional manual coin cell assembly faces challenges such as low efficiency and poor consistency, creating bottlenecks in material development. IEST Automatic Coin Cell Assembly System (CAAS) redefines assembly standards through automation, enhancing both R&D efficiency and data reliability!

2. Seven Pain Points of Manual Coin Cell Assembly: Dual Challenges in Efficiency and Quality

• Difficulty in Aligning Curled Electrodes: Single-sided coated electrodes tend to curl, leading to misalignment and poor consistency during manual assembly.
• Concentricity Reliant on Operator Skill: Variations in component diameters and manual placement introduce unquantified errors.
• Lack of Process Traceability: Ambiguity in distinguishing assembly errors from material defects due to untraceable anomalies.
• Batch Management Complexity: Manual record-keeping risks mismatches between battery data and physical samples.
• Cross-Contamination Risks: Shared tools (e.g., tweezers) between anode and cathode materials compromise data integrity.
• Operator Dependency: New operators require 3 months of training, while fatigue reduces yield over time.
• High Repetitive Labor Intensity: Daily assembly of 500–800 cells results in exponentially increasing error rates.

3. The Game-Changer: Automatic Coin Cell Assembly System (CAAS)

Core Advantages: High-precision robotic arm + AI vision inspection + automatic sealing + full-process traceability for “zero-error” assembly!

Key Technological Breakthroughs

• Precision Handling of Curled Electrodes:
  ✅ Specialized suction cups flatten electrodes; CCD identifies centers.
  ✅ Robotic arm vertically presses electrodes, allowing self-alignment upon electrolyte contact.
• Intelligent Process Control:
  ✅ Dual CCD systems monitor component status in real time, automatically classifying OK/NG.
  ✅ QR code scanning + on-device labeling ensures “one-code traceability.”
• Elimination of Human Interference:
  ✅ Constant sealing pressure outperforms skilled operators in consistency.
  ✅ Dedicated tools for each material eliminate cross-contamination.

4. Comparative Testing: Machine vs. Manual Coin Cell Assembly – Striking Results!

4.1 Experimental Setup

Two groups assembled ternary (NMC) and silicon-based material coin cells manually and via CAAS, respectively (12 cells per group). Post-assembly electrochemical testing was conducted.

4.2 Test Results: 

4.3 Test Results Summary:

• Ternary Materials:
  The range in charge–discharge specific capacity for automatically assembled cells was 0.6–0.9 mAh/g (σ ≈ 0.25), compared to 1–2 mAh/g (σ ≈ 0.4) for manually assembled cells.

• Silicon-Based Materials:
  Automatically assembled cells exhibited a specific capacity range of 15–20 mAh/g (σ ≈ 4–6), versus 20–40 mAh/g (σ ≈ 5–10) for manual assembly.

• Although the average specific capacities are comparable, the automatic assembly system demonstrates superior data stability relative to manual assembly.

5. Application Cases: Validation with Three Material Systems

5.1 Experimental Setup

Three parallel samples of ternary (NMC), LFP, and graphite electrodes were prepared (20 discs per group). Ternary and LFP cells were assembled without lithium brushing; graphite cells included lithium brushing.

5.2 Ternary (NMC) Coin Cell Data:

Summary: Post-assembly, the discharge specific capacity consistency of the ternary positive electrodes was maintained within a range of 1.5 mAh/g, with a within-group standard deviation (σ) below 0.4.

5.3 LFP Coin Cell Data:

Summary: The LFP positive electrodes demonstrated a discharge specific capacity range confined to 1.5 mAh/g and a σ value below 0.4.

5.4 Graphite Coin Cell Data:

Summary: For graphite negative electrodes, the charge specific capacity consistency was controlled within a range of 2 mAh/g, with a σ value below 0.5.

6. Future Outlook: How Automation Empowers New Energy R&D

The successful development of the IEST Automatic Coin Cell Assembly System heralds the advent of the “standardization era” in battery assembly. With the deep integration of AI and IoT technologies, full-chain automation—from material handling and assembly to testing—will soon be feasible, accelerating the rapid iteration of new energy materials.

7. Related Instrument Recommended: IEST Automatic Coin Cell Assembly System(CAAS Series)

Assessing the stability of electrode intercalation in material batches is a necessary procedure for both material manufacturers and battery cell factories. The consistency of personnel in assembling electrode intercalation significantly affects the judgment of material performance. IEST Automatic Coin Cell Assembly System, it can save labor costs, improve consistency, reduce the retest rate, and speed up the evaluation cycle.