THIS OPEN-SOURCE ROBOT PLACES 30 CHIPS A MINUTE - 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.
Open-hardwareWorkshop
- difficulty
- ●●●●●
- time
- several weekends
- license
- CERN-OHL-S-2.0 (hardware), GPL-3.0 (firmware)
- repo
- repo ACTIVE3,567 stars
●●●●● · several weekends · CERN-OHL-S-2.0 (hardware), GPL-3.0 (firmware) · 3,567 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
LumenPnP is the real thing: an open-source pick-and-place machine that uses dual computer-vision cameras to place surface-mount components at speeds a human cannot match. Hundreds of people have built their own from the GitHub sources, and it is now on version four. The documentation is thorough, the community is active, and the design is mature enough that Opulo sells 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 alone is hundreds of 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. The cost band sits at the top end because of all the motion hardware, cameras, and the vacuum system. If you already own a 3D printer and have built other motion platforms, LumenPnP is a weekend-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.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Full CAD, BOM, firmware and assembly documentation in the repository.
- —Hardware is CERN-OHL-S 2.0; firmware is GPL-3.0. Both permit commercial use.
- —You will need access to a 3D printer for structural parts (PLA or PETG).
- —The Bill of Materials runs to hundreds of line items including steppers, linear rails, cameras, and a vacuum pump.
- —Calibration and vision tuning are substantial — this is not a one-weekend project.
- —Active community on Discord; the project moved from stephenhawes/openpnp to opulo-inc/lumenpnp when Stephen founded Opulo.
Can I build this?
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.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
Stephen Hawes and the LumenPnP Open Source Pick and Place ...
No single official build video in the payload; community walkthroughs exist but were not provided.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the assembly documentation in the GitHub repository to understand the scope. (Start with the README and the docs/ folder — it will show you the full BOM and assembly sequence.)
- 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.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.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.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 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?
Around 30 placements per minute for small boards with well-tuned feeders and vision; your mileage will vary 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
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Hundreds of people have built their own LumenPnP machines from the sources, and it is now on version four. If you built one, what was the single calibration step that took longer than you expected?
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 with hundreds of community builds. He later founded Opulo to offer kits and support alongside the open repository.
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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.
CompareeTEAM27d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: The repository moved from Stephen's personal account to the opulo-inc organization when he founded the company — old links redirect correctly. There is no single official build video in the sources we checked, but the assembly documentation in the repo is detailed and the Discord community is active. The cost band sits at $$$ because of the sheer number of motion components, cameras, and the vacuum system — this is not a cheap build, but it is a real pick-and-place machine. The one thing that surprised us: how much of the real build time happens after the machine moves, in vision tuning and feeder setup.