Since we're talking other machines:
I think we all agree that if we wanted to buy and could afford 20k+€ professional machines (and that is most basic without feeders and accessoires), we would probably not be here.
I keep watching the low cost / maker / DIY space and there are a few other interesting machines:
- VisionBot IMHO is a bit overrated. I mean, congrats to the young guy who made it work. But afterall, it is not much different from LitePlacer or some DIY projects documented on the web - except for the steeper price tag.
Mechanics use different linear bearings but are still belt driven. Also uses USB cameras and a single nozzle. I guess accuracy would be about the same.
I had a glimpse at the software and did not like it much - looks very playful and cluttered to me (might be based on personal taste...).
Also, it is all closed source, so extensions hard or impossible to do - this dismisses it for me. But see for yourself:
http://visionbot.net/
- There is a bunch of German guys who demoed a nice looking P&P at maker faires in Germany last year. Software screenshots look compelling, hardware seems well engineered.
Not open source either and not available yet - also no pricelist has been published. They said the machine kit would sell around 2k€ but who knows...
Check it out here:
http://www.varioplace.com/
- "Redfrog PnP" features impressive woodwork and some nice circuitry, but I have not found out which software to use with it - also rather on the expensive side
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/PickandPla ... dFrog.aspx
- FirePick Delta takes a different approach - a very interesting delta robot that is cheaper to make and uses less space than a traditional cartesian machine. It is intended to be a multi-purpose machine with exchangable tool heads which could do anything from 3D-printing, to P&P, solder paste dispensing or decorating cakes...
I have a Beta build but to be honest, pick & place lacks semi automatic feeders and a nicely integrated software at this point. Might be interesting to watch, especially if you only place a few components and like to get 3D printer functionality for little extra money. Open source + hardware.
http://delta.firepick.org/
I would also like to point out OpenPNP, which is intended to be a machine independent open-source PnP software. As it is written in Java, it will run cross-platform, even on your RasPi 2 (or other embedded). Is anyone running LitePlacer with that software?
http://openpnp.org/
In the DIY scene there are some impressive builds - in no particular order:
http://briandorey.com/post/DIY-Pick-and ... plete.aspx
https://www.vbesmens.de/de/bestueckungsautomat.html
https://amesberger.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... e-machine/
https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp-openbuilds
I hope I have not missed something cool?
Long story short, I do honestly believe that Juha delivers the best package at the moment - and I don't get commission
His machine kits are readily available, resonably priced and ship instantly.
Hardware is easy to build, nice and stable. You still have to put some thoughts and work into feeders / trays and there are no automatic feeders at this point - but for prototypes and small panels that is not a killer.
The software may not be perfect and you are forced to use Windows - but it works without much tinkering.
Most important, everything from hardware to software is open-source - so you can enhance and change whatever you like.
If I could go back in time and revise my decision, I would get a LitePlacer again - see this as a testimony from a happy LitePlacer user
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)