SMD Pick and place machine - Smoothieboard/OpenPnp

This PNP build pulls ideas from many different machines that came before this one. I used the OpenPnp Openbuilds reference design as a starting point. I wanted to have a usable machine without spending thousands, while being able to add things on as I go, if needed.

Starting out the build with the Openbuilds frame and mounting the head. Note that the gantry plate threads have to be drilled out to mount the x axis like this. It's a bit tricky to get assembled


The 3d printed camera mount is from the OpenPnp design. It didn't work too well in this location on the head.


The solenoids and vac pump mounted. Flyback diodes were used at the connections for each.


Running everything through the chain. I later realized that the tubing I used here was too rigid, so I switched it out for something softer just in the chain. The rest is still this tubing.


I had to take apart the head to make some holes bigger to mount to the Openbuilds mini gantry.


Initially I used an ELP camera mounted under the X axis. I later switched this out to another camera that fits between the Nema 8 motors on the head. I found that having the camera far away from the nozzles made the usable space less when the top camera needed to be used to align with the feeders.


When originally purchased this was a 4x Smoothieboard. I purchased the parts to make it a 5x and soldered them on. (the BOM for that is located here). In the top left you can see where I let out some magic smoke from a MOSFET due to some reversed polarity on the power input for the small MOSFETS. When I turned on the LED light, POOF! Whoops!


Some testing after all the basics were assembled


I decided on these feeders. I paid to have these printed, since I do not own a 3d printer. This one is ABS.


The assembly that peels off the tape. This attaches to the back of the feeders in a staggered pattern.


Figuring out where everything can be placed. In this configuration everything is too high.


More feeder assembly.


Here the feeders are actually too low. The nozzles can't reach them.


This is the mount for the new camera. Originally it had a ball on the end, which was cut off. I then ran it through a m5 die, put a nut on the front of it and screwed it into the spot where a nylon stop was on the head.


The new camera. I still want to make it a bit more secure - right now it can still move a bit at the bottom.


Since the feeders were too low, their mount and the bed mounts had to be modified so the nozzles could properly reach them...



An extra rail was added to support the auto and drag feeders. This is 20x20 extrusion.


The PCB for the native feeder shield. I have some extra that are available here. The shield has some extra MOSFETS too, but they are not needed in this build.


This is how I ended up cutting the bed. Now with bottom camera! The box is from the OpenPnp build. I had to drill some new holes to mount it flush with the bed.



Some of the wiring in the back


...and under. The vac lines go to vac sensors on the native shield.


A look at the underside of the feeders


And from the top..


I realized I had the solenoids backwards. That would explain the lack of vacuum!


More to come...

There are some more details on this build located here.

Also, a more details BOM is located here.