Open Pick-N-Place Tape Feeder

youmagine

This project has found a new home at code.google.com/p/smt-pick-n-place-system/. I'm working to automate PCB assembly using a 3D printer with a pick-and-place toolhead instead of buying a pricey $40,000 machine. This design is parametric and can be easily adjusted for different SMD tape sizes. The gear adjusts according to the tape pitch and component size too. A tape feeder like this costs about €1 compared to €200. As with most of my designs, I built it in OpenSCAD at openSCAD.org - a fantastic tool that's perfect for command-line users like myself. I love how you can print and cut these parts on open-source machines and then assemble PCBs automatically for 3D printers and laser cutters. Plus, the laser cutter itself can be open source, something our friends in Utrecht are working on at laoslaser.org. If you have any ideas or suggestions, they may even win you a prize as part of the Ultimaker challenge at ultimaker.com/challenge/.