Pick and place machines typically require extensive setup and calibration, custom tooling, and significant startup time. These limitations make them less effective for rapid prototyping. The D.A.P. was designed to address those challenges. Our solution requires very little calibration after assembly and includes semi-automated part calibration to reduce setup time. It also supports the full PCB manufacturing process by integrating reflow directly into the system.
In addition, the D.A.P.’s feeder system uses vertical traversal and loose-part picking capabilities, allowing more components to be placed within a smaller desktop footprint. This project would not have been possible without the combined efforts of Emma Martino, Teaken Brazeau, Thomas Stickland, and Joseph Saturnino.