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THIS OPEN-SOURCE ROBOT PLACES OVER 1,500 CHIPS AN HOUR - AND YOU CAN BUILD IT YOURSELF

A robot that places surface-mount chips onto circuit boards using computer vision, and you can build the whole machine from GitHub sources.

by Stephen Hawes

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

Open-hardwareWorkshop

Built with3D printing

difficulty
●●●●●
time
several weekends
license
CERN-OHL-W-2.0 (hardware), MPL-2.0 (tooling), CC BY-SA 4.0 (KiCad libraries)
repo
repo ACTIVE3,662 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

LumenPnP is the real thing: an open-source pick-and-place machine that uses two cameras to place surface-mount components at speeds a human cannot match. It is now on version four, and the README says machines are being used in active production daily. The documentation is thorough, the community is active, and the design is mature enough that Opulo sells machines and kits commercially alongside the open repository. What will be hard: this is a complex multi-axis machine with steppers, linear motion, vacuum handling and two cameras that need calibration. The BOM runs to well over a hundred line items. Budget several weekends for the mechanical build, then more time tuning vision and feeders until placement is reliable. If you have never commissioned a motion system or debugged G-code, this will teach you, but it will not be quick. If you already own a 3D printer and have built other motion platforms, LumenPnP is a stretching but achievable project. If this is your first robot, expect a longer road. The one thing most likely to go wrong: underestimating how much time you will spend on feeder setup and vision calibration after the machine moves.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Full CAD, BOM, firmware and assembly documentation in the repository.
  • —Hardware is CERN-OHL-W 2.0 and commercial use is allowed, but the Opulo and LumenPnP names and branding are trademarked — remove them from anything you sell.
  • —You will need access to a 3D printer for structural parts (PLA or PETG).
  • —The bill of materials (bom.csv) runs to well over a hundred line items, including steppers, linear rails, cameras and vacuum pumps.
  • —Calibration and vision tuning are substantial — this is not a one-weekend project.
  • —Active community on Discord; the machine started life as the Index Pick and Place and became LumenPnP under Opulo, the company Stephen founded.

Parts to buy

9 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

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Can I build this?

PrintStructural frame parts, motor mounts, feeder components, and camera housings — the exported STLs are attached to the latest GitHub release.
BuySteppers, linear rails, timing belts, vacuum pump, solenoid valves, two cameras, controller board, pneumatic fittings, and hundreds of fasteners and smaller parts per the BOM.
Tools3D printer, soldering iron, hex drivers, a sturdy workbench with room for the machine, and patience for motion tuning.
SkillsMechanical assembly, basic electronics, 3D printing, motion system commissioning, and willingness to work through calibration and firmware configuration. Prior experience with steppers or CNC-style machines will save you days.
TimeSeveral weekends: one for printing and sourcing parts, one or two for mechanical assembly, then ongoing sessions for wiring, firmware setup, and vision calibration.
CostDriven by the motion hardware (steppers, rails, belts), cameras, vacuum system and controller. The repo gives no total, so price the BOM before you commit.
SafetyMains voltage at the power supply. The machine moves quickly once running, so keep hands clear of the gantry during operation.

This build involves mains voltage — for adults comfortable with electrical work only.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Stephen Hawes and the LumenPnP Open Source Pick and Place

Electromaker interview with Stephen Hawes at Electronica 2022. Opulo also publishes an official setup tutorial series, and the README links Stephen's development video playlist.

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Gallery

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Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the assembly documentation in the GitHub repository to understand the scope. (Start with the README and the project wiki, then download the exported STLs and schematics from the latest release; bom.csv in the repo is the parts list.)
  2. 2.Source or print the frame parts and order the BOM.(Check the BOM carefully — there are hundreds of items, and substitutions may require tweaks.)
  3. 3.Join the Discord community before you start building.(The Discord is where people share feeder designs, calibration tips, and troubleshooting — it is the live knowledge base.)
  4. 4.Assemble the frame and motion system first, then add electronics and cameras.(Get the axes moving and homing reliably before you start on vision.)
  5. 5.Plan serious time for vision calibration and feeder setup after the build.(This is where most of the learning happens — and where the machine goes from moving to actually placing components.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Underestimating the BOM cost and complexity — this is not a 100-dollar project, and you cannot skip major components.
  • Starting without a 3D printer or access to one; many structural parts must be printed.
  • Expecting the machine to work perfectly the first time it moves — motion tuning and camera calibration are the real build time.
  • Buying the wrong stepper motors or linear rails; check the BOM specifications exactly.
  • Not joining the Discord before you hit a problem — the community has solved most issues already.
  • Underestimating how much space the machine needs on your bench when fully assembled and operational.

Can I build this without prior CNC or motion system experience?

You can, but it will take longer. The documentation is good, but you will learn motion commissioning, G-code, and vision calibration along the way — budget extra time if this is new territory.

Is the Bill of Materials final, or will I need to substitute parts?

The BOM is comprehensive and tested, but some suppliers or part numbers may change. The Discord community tracks current sources and known substitutions.

How long does it take to place components once the machine is calibrated?

Opulo has tested the v4 at up to about 1,580 placements per hour (roughly 26 a minute) with well-tuned feeders and vision; real jobs are slower depending on component size and feeder setup.

Do I need to buy a kit, or can I source everything myself?

You can source everything yourself from the BOM — the repository is fully open. Opulo sells kits, but that is optional.

What is the hardest part of the build?

Getting vision calibration and feeder setup working reliably. The mechanical build is straightforward if you follow the docs; the tuning is where you earn your working machine.

Community builds

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

LumenPnP is on version four, sold as a kit and fully open — and the README says machines are in daily production use. If you built one, what was the single calibration step that took longer than you expected?

CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: LumenPnP was previously called the Index pick and place. The development process is documented in an official video playlist linked from the README, and Opulo publishes a LumenPnP setup tutorial series. Exported STLs, schematic PDFs and binaries are attached to each release, powered feeders have their own repository, and discussion happens on the LumenPnP Discord. The hardware is licensed CERN-OHL-W v2 and the Opulo and LumenPnP names are trademarked. This is not a cheap build because of the number of motion components, cameras and the vacuum system, but it is a real pick-and-place machine. Expect much of the real build time to happen after the machine moves, in vision tuning and feeder setup. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

Stephen Hawes

Stephen Hawes started the LumenPnP project in 2020, documenting the entire build process on YouTube. It grew from a personal project into a mature open-source machine that is used in active production daily. He later founded Opulo to offer kits and support alongside the open repository.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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