Nicholas WeaverJan 20, 2023

One of the often ignored but substantial things 3D printers buy is the ability to quickly make custom jigs.

How am I going to assemble this test board of mine with 0402 components WITHOUT going crazy (i hope)?

I got an additional solder-mask template that is actually for placing the parts themselves, and printing a jig to hold it on yet be easy to remove without disturbing the parts.

Show threadMarkJan 20, 2023
@ncweaver
A 3D printer is really pretty similar to a pick and place machine ...
Show threadNicholas Weaver

@zl2tod I wish...

I'd love it if someone made a desktop pick & place machine...

Jan 20, 2023 at 9:40pmWeb
Show threadMarkJan 20, 2023
@ncweaver
Some clever clogs could design a pick and place head to mount next to an existing 3D printer head ... and a reel handler ... and a not insignificant amount of software.
Perhaps they already have.
Show threadMarkJan 20, 2023
@ncweaver
Yup, lotsa hits.
Show threadNicholas WeaverJan 20, 2023

@zl2tod Yeah, but homebrew finnicky. Nothing commercial & affordable, and I'm inclined to pay extra for systems that are reliable.

So lacking that, it is can I do something by hand...

Show threadMarkJan 20, 2023
@ncweaver
Fair call.
Show threadBatzJan 21, 2023
@ncweaver @zl2tod https://youtu.be/InALPtKrGXU they do!
Using The LumenPnP In Production!

YouTube
Show threadBatzJan 21, 2023
@ncweaver @zl2tod it’s open source, fairly modular, and looks like it’d work for your project. If the board is as funky looking as that outline, you might need a carrier board to push it through one after another, or just do 1 at a time.
Show threadNicholas WeaverJan 22, 2023

@andrewbatz @zl2tod Nice.

But TBT I don't have the budget either... But if I was and could get $10k from someone for setting up a student electronic fabrication lab, I'd certainly include it, although really I'd want something that can do 0201...