[NLRS] One off circuit bord assembler

[Doug Reed]

Sounds like a nice idea. I didn't see any of the pictures. I didn't
read anything about how they were going to load the parts into the
pick-n-place machine. Half the fun with a real PNP is the dozens of
component reals you have installed on the machine to grab parts from.
If you are only making 10 of something, you will probably not buy a
4000 count reel of each part. So you will probably be working with
loose parts or short cut-offs from a parts reel. Do you put your 10K
resistor on a plate and the PNP vision finds it, picks it up and
places it? It'll work, slowly, with almost as much labor as doing it
by hand, but hopefully with better placement accuracy. .

Since I didn't keep reading the articles, maybe they've got a way
around the parts presentation issues. And what about the solder paste
masking? Another messy job.... Maybe you can 3D print with the solder
paste?

But if they make it all work, it should be a heck of a tool for the
advance hobbyist or small company. Since it is also a 3D printer, can
they tweak it some more to route the PCBs? But routed PCBs are a real
PITA to work with if you have a lot of vias in the board.... Of course
if you make the decision to route the PCB rather than use a quick-turn
house, you made the decision to accept the via problems.... Can't
really call it a defect if you made an informed decision....

I did find it interesting that 3D printing is "mainstream" enough that
they have machines and supplies down at MicroCenter.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.