How to Make Something that Makes (almost) Anything

Fangzheng Liu (fzliu@mit.edu)

Semi-automatic Pick and Place machine

I frequently do PCB assembly utilizing a manual pick and place (PnP) machine, which is a very time-consuming process. While automatic PnP machines offer efficiency, their setup can be cumbersome. My aim is to develop a PnP system that combines human and machine advantages: leveraging human understanding of component location with the precision of machine placement. This hybrid approach promises heightened efficiency, particularly for smaller PCB quantities. Manual PnP typically handles PCBs in under 3 units, while automatic PnP exceeds 10. My goal is to bridge this gap.

SYSTEM