Science/Engineering/Technical forums

A cheap SMT pick and place machine can be made from an old printer with the addition of a vaccum pump and tube - use the carrige to carry a vacuum pick-up head and locate the board under the carriage at an index point - the machine is then programmed like a printer. The components are located at one side and the carriage moves to that location to pickup the component - better for low component count. Two axis can be achieved but some software skills are needed as position motors are usually stepper type. - save you thousands.