Abstract: In a pick and place machine of the type having an X-Y movable bond head there is provided a vertically movable pick up tool in the bond head having a tip for picking up and placing a device. The tip of the bonding tool is mounted opposite a radiant heating element which is juxtaposed and separated from the tip of the bonding tool. The tip of the bonding tool is heated to a predetermined control temperature with the radiant energy heating element and during a bonding operation it incurs some cooling. The amount of cooling is calculated by the time and the length of the extension of the bonding tool from its heating element and a computer controller calculates a compensation factor over a predetermined fixed time which includes retracting the bonding tool tip a predetermined vertical distance into the heater to reheat the tool and compensate for the amount of cooling that occurred during the pick and place operation.