Abstract: This invention provides an electronic component mounting apparatus which can detects an electronic component held by a suction nozzle without fail after a mounting operation of electronic components on a printed board and perform various processes in a case where the electronic component is held by the suction nozzle.

Abstract: A pick-up tool for gripping a die comprises a sleeve and a gripping member. The sleeve has a longitudinal bore extending in the longitudinal direction in which the gripping member is inserted. The gripping member is held in the sleeve displaceably in the longitudinal direction. A portion of the gripping member protrudes from the sleeve. The gripping member assumes a predetermined position relative to the sleeve at the absence of any external action of force on the portion of the gripping member protruding from the sleeve, in which the portion of the gripping member protruding from the sleeve is held in a play-free manner radially to the longitudinal direction. In the case of action of force in the longitudinal direction on the portion of the gripping member protruding from the sleeve, the gripping member can be inserted further into the sleeve and is then radially movably held in the longitudinal bore of the sleeve. The mass of the gripping member is not more than 1 gram.

Abstract: By means of a method, at least one component is placed on at least one substrate. The component is picked-up by at least one placement machine and is placed at a desired position on the substrate. After the component is placed on the substrate, an image of the component placed on the substrate is taken by a camera. Any difference between the actual position of the component on the substrate and a desired position of the component on the substrate is established on account of the image. The positioning of another component to be placed on the substrate takes into account any such difference.

Abstract: An electronics assembly apparatus with improved pick evaluation is provided. The apparatus includes a placement head having at least one nozzle for releasably picking up and holding a component. A robotic system is provided for generating relative movement between the placement head and a workpiece, such as a circuit board. An image acquisition system is disposed to obtain at least one before-pick image of a component pick up location and at least one after-pick image of the component pick up location. The before-pick image contains a plurality of image portions, having each image portion view the pick-up location from a different point of view, while the after-pick image contains a plurality of image portions, having each image portion view the pick-up location from a different point of view.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging a tape substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of robotic arms, a plurality of clamping elements attached to the robotic arms, a memory having a program stored therein, and a control module coupled to the memory to execute the program to perform a packaging process. The packaging process includes clamping a plurality of segments of a tape substrate to the clamping elements, encapsulating a first chip to a first side of a tape substrate to form a first capsule in a first segment, and securing a second segment of the tape substrate adjacent the first segment to a second clamping element. The packing process also includes moving the robotic arms relative to one another to stack the second segment over the first capsule. The first clamping element and second clamping element move independently of each other.

Abstract: A method of assembling an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) assembly with attach hardware includes selecting a thickness of a load washer based on a target load to be applied by said attach hardware.

Abstract: The invention is directed to increased stabilization of a pickup operation by reducing a reaction against disturbance by reducing a feedback value when a pickup rate is improved. A positional shifting amount of an electronic component on a suction nozzle before the electronic component is mounted on a printed board is stored in a RAM each time the component is picked up at a component feeding unit until a pickup count number reaches a predetermined pickup number, and a CPU calculates an average of the positional shifting amounts. When the pickup count number reaches the predetermined pickup number, the CPU obtains a temporary coefficient by adding an initial value to a value obtained by multiplying a negative coefficient by the pickup count number, and calculates a feedback value by multiplying the temporary coefficient by the average.

Abstract: The invention provides a manufacturing apparatus in which inter-substrate transfer of a thin film circuit or a thin film element can automatically be performed. An apparatus for manufacturing electronic devices includes a laser device to generate laser beams, a masking unit having a masking substrate to shape beam spots of the laser beams, a first stage to place a first substrate, which carries a object to be transferred, a second stage to place a second substrate, to which the object to be transferred is transferred, an adhesive agent applying unit to apply an adhesive agent on the object to be transferred or on a transferred position on the second substrate, and a control unit to control the actions of the first and the second stages.

Abstract: An apparatus for transplanting a multi-board is provided. This apparatus includes an orientation device, a calibration device, and an image-adjusting device. The orientation device has a first movable platform, and the multi-board is fixed on the first movable platform. The calibration device has a second movable platform and is used for moving a substitution circuit board to a recombination position of the multi-board. The image-adjusting device captures image data of the multi-board and the substitution circuit board and compares the image data to obtain an error signal. The calibration device receives the error signal and moves the second movable platform according to the error signal in order to calibrate the relative position between the substitution circuit board and the multi-board.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic component feeding device which can stably feed electronic components, and an electronic component mounting apparatus having the electronic component feeding device. In a component feeding unit, an opening provided in a suppressor for picking electronic components is formed in a size corresponding to electronic components stored in a storage tape of 16 mm pitch so as to employ storage tapes of four types, i.e., 4 mm pitch, 8 mm pitch, 12 mm pitch, and 16 mm pitch. When the storage tape of 4 mm pitch is employed, a component pickup position of a suction nozzle and a feed stop position of a head electronic component have been conventionally in a center of the opening.

Abstract: A method of mounting an electronic part to a substrate, comprising: a substrate feed transporting step transporting the substrate 10 supplied to a substrate transport start position to a mounting unit 12; an electronic part supplying step supplying the electronic part 11 to the mounting unit 12; a mounting step mounting the electronic part 11 to the substrate by the mounting unit 12; and a substrate return transporting step transporting the substrate 10 to a substrate discharge position on which the electronic part has been mounted in the mounting step, wherein in the substrate feed transporting step, a carrier 100 is heated during a period when transported over a predetermined distance from the substrate transport start position; and the substrate feed transporting step, the mounting step, and the substrate return transporting step are performed while the substrate 10 is held by the carrier 100 heated during the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A socket connector (1) is provided with a pair of clips (13) on perimeter sidewalls (12) for providing sustain retention force to a packaged processor (2) independent from retention force applied to the heat sink so that forces applied to the heat sink are counteracted to reduce the risk of inadvertent processor removal or damage. While pressing portions (133) of the clips (13) are exerted a substantially downward vertical force by a user, the clips (13) are opened for receiving the packaged processor (2). After the user stop pressing the pressing portions (133), the resilient force of the clips (31) push the latching portions (131) fixing on the side edge of the packaged processor (2) for performing the aforementioned purpose.

Abstract: An electronic parts mounting apparatus and an electronic parts mounting method for picking up a plurality of electronic parts simultaneously by a transfer head having a plurality of suction nozzles from a plurality of tape feeders and then mounting the electronic parts on a substrate are provided. Displacement amounts of parts stop positions in respective tape feeders are detected in advance and stored as stop position correction data, and then tape feeding mechanisms are controlled based on the stop position correction data upon picking up the parts by the transfer head to execute such a registration that causes the parts stop positions to coincide with parts suction positions of the suction nozzles in the transfer head.

Abstract: A semiconductor mounting apparatus contains a pick and place system having a bonding head, which has a first drive system and a second drive system for displacing the bonding head in a predetermined direction. The first drive system has a first pivot arm and a first stationary situated drive, which is used to pivot the pivot arm back-and-forth within a predefined pivot range. The second drive system is mounted on the pivot arm and comprises a stationary situated electric motor.

Abstract: A decoupling capacitor/integrated circuit assembly including: an integrated circuit assembly comprising a carrier containing an integrated circuit, the carrier comprising connectors on a base thereof defining a space on the base having no connectors, the connectors providing an electrical connection to the integrated circuit, one of the connectors designated as a power connector and another of the connectors designated as a ground connector; and a decoupling capacitor provided in the space on the base of the carrier and electrically connected to the power and ground connectors, wherein the decoupling capacitor is sized to fit between the integrated circuit assembly and a structure to which the integrated circuit assembly is to be connected.

Abstract: A method for measuring samples includes fitting and mounting, onto a transfer stage, a chip pallet for transporting sensor chips; fitting a positioning hole of a chip package onto a positioning pin; pulling a bottom plate of the chip package off the chip package, so as to simultaneously transfer the housed sensor chips onto the transfer stage; pulling upward the chip pallet so as to simultaneously transfer, onto the chip pallet, the sensor chips on the transfer stage; and mounting the chip pallet having the sensor chips mounted thereon onto a measuring device, and measuring samples.

Abstract: A novel method and placement system are configured for populating a substrate with an electronic component. The placement system has a substrate holding device for receiving the substrate, a wafer holding device above the substrate holding device serving for receiving a wafer holding frame, and a vacuum forceps holding device arranged above the wafer holding device. The wafer holding frame can receive a complete semiconductor wafer divided into electronic components.

Abstract: In an electronic component mounting apparatus, nozzle mechanisms are formed slender by providing shaft-type linear motors vertically upward of nozzle units and providing linear encoders vertical upward of the shaft-type linear motors, respectively. Thus, it becomes implementable to reduce the occupational area of the individual nozzle mechanisms in XY directions (horizontal direction), allowing the pitch of neighboring nozzles to be narrowed. It also becomes achievable to keep up with increasingly narrowing mounting pitches of electronic components in boards of increasingly smaller-size and higher-integration.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for an electronic assembly. The method comprises depositing a functional block into a recessed region, forming dielectric layer selectively over at least one of a selected portion of the functional block and a selected portion of the first substrate; and forming one or more electrical interconnections to the functional block. The recessed region is formed on a first substrate. The depositing of the functional block occurs on a continuous web line and using a Fluidic Self Assembly process. The functional block has a width-depth aspect ratio that substantially matches a width-depth aspect ratio of said recessed region which is one of equal to or less than 10.5:1, and equal to or less than 7.5:1.

Abstract: In an electronic component mounting system including a plurality of electronic component mounting apparatuses coupled in series, the system mounting an electronic component on a substrate to manufacture a mounted substrate, a substrate carried into a mounting conveyor is temporarily placed in a standby state in a substrate standby area formed by a first transfer conveyor (carry-in conveyor) of one electronic component mounting apparatus and a second transfer conveyor (carry-out conveyor) of another electronic component mounting apparatus positioned upstream of the one electronic component mounting apparatus. This eliminates the waste of time attributable to transfer of substrates and enhances the production efficiency by a compact facility.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing a printed circuit board are disclosed. The apparatus for manufacturing a printed circuit board that uses conductive bumps to interconnect layers includes: a conveyor unit, which is configured to transport a board that has the conductive bumps formed on one side; an upper roller and a lower roller, which press the board and an insulator together; an elastic coating layer, formed on a surface of the upper roller; and a cleaning device, which removes impurities from a surface of the elastic coating layer. The apparatus does not require a separate device for performing a cushioning function and a detaching function between the bumps and the rollers, and the rollers can be kept clean using a cleaning device.

Abstract: The inventive electronic component mounting apparatus for mounting an electronic component on a substrate includes a substrate positioning unit for individually positioning a single large-sized substrate or two small-sized substrates carried into a mounting conveyor in respective mounting work positions and a substrate underside support part arranged below the mounting conveyor and including a first underside support part and a second underside support part. It is thus possible to position a single substrate in a mounting work position in case a large-sized substrate is handled and to individually position a plurality of substrates in a plurality of mounting work positions in case a small-sized substrate is handled. This ensures flexible component mounting work on plural types of substrates by a compact facility.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of controlling a component mounter which includes a mobile unit for mounting a component onto a circuit board, and includes judging (S1) on which side of the component mounter a user, who issues an instruction to the component mounter, is present; and performing position control (S2) by shifting the mobile unit to a position which allows a maintenance task to be performed on the component mounter from the side on which the user is judged to be present.

Abstract: A component mounting condition determination method is used in a component mounter of mounting components onto a board using a mounting head having plural suction nozzles, and includes: a maximum suction component number determination step (Loop A, S11 to S16) of determining the maximum number of components to be suctioned by the mounting head so as to be greater than an upper limit of a suction power within which the suction nozzles do not drop components even when the mounting head moves at a predetermined speed; and a task determination step (S18 to S20) of determining a task which is a group of components to be mounted in one iteration of a series of operations that includes suctioning, transporting, and mounting components by the mounting head, based on the determined maximum number of components.

Abstract: All images of a plurality of sucked and held electronic components are picked up, sucked and held states of the electronic components are successively recognized by their respective images in an order of placing the electronic components onto a circuit board, and the electronic components for which such recognition processing is completed can be successively placed onto the circuit board in this order during a process of the recognition processing.

Abstract: A heating and pressurizing apparatus (101), to which a circuit board (70) with electronic components (8) pre-bonded thereto via bonding elements (9) is carried in, is provided. The heating and pressurizing apparatus post-bonds the electronic component to the circuit board by heating and pressurizing the electronic component by a contact member (1211) having a heating device (122). By executing the pre-bonding and the post-bonding of the electronic components to the circuit board independently of each other, the time required for the post-bonding can be reduced, compared with the conventional case, and the productivity of the whole mounting line can be improved.

Abstract: A service providing method for monitoring a mounting tact of a component mounting apparatus includes collecting, from the service receiver, mounting tact information including a mounting tact result value of the component mounting apparatus from the service receiver by use of a service provider via a communication system. The method additionally includes judging whether a mounting operation of the component mounting apparatus has a tact loss corresponding to an amount by which a mounting tact is greater than a standard mounting tact as a result of analysis of the collected mounting tact information and determining and feeding back, to the service receiver via the communication system, NC data for allowing the component mounting apparatus to be operated.

Abstract: By providing a plurality of semiconductor chips that are connected in parallel and constitute one arm of an inverter; a first conductor to which a face on one side of said plurality of semiconductor chips is connected; a wide conductor to which a face on the other side of said plurality of semiconductor chips is connected; a second conductor said first conductor and second conductor are connected connected to said wide conductor; and a cooler to which through an insulating resin sheet, part of the heat loss generated in the semiconductor chips is thermally conducted to the first conductor and is thence thermally conducted to the cooler, producing cooling, while another part thereof is thermally conducted to the wide conductor and thence to the second conductor, whence it is thermally conducted to the cooler, producing cooling.

Abstract: A film substrate that has antenna circuits formed at a fixed spacing on one surface thereof is transported at a constant speed, and IC chips are moved along the film substrate, and are mounted at the fixed spacing on the film substrate so as to be connected to the antenna circuits.

Abstract: A technique for processing an electronic apparatus (e.g., manufacturing an assembled circuit board, treating an assembled circuit board, etc.) involves applying encasement material to an area of the circuit board assembly while leaving at least a portion of the circuit board assembly exposed. The technique further involves causing the applied encasement material to harden (e.g., heating the encasement material in a curing oven, applying radiation, providing a chemical catalyst, etc.). Application and hardening of the encasement material may take place shortly after circuit board assembly (e.g., by automated equipment at a manufacturing facility in order to treat newly assembled boards) or at some later time in the field (e.g., by a technician servicing a legacy board).

Abstract: A mounting apparatus applies ultrasonic vibration exactly to a junction between a SMD and a SMD receiving device and maintains the junction at the suitable temperature, in simple construction in ultrasonic bonding of the SMD and the SMD receiving device held by holding unit. This includes SMD holding unit, SMD receiving device holding unit, moving unit moving at least one of the SMD holding unit and SMD receiving device holding units to contact each other, vibration generating unit applying ultrasonic vibration to the a contact portion between the SMD and the SMD receiving device, pressing unit applying an bias force between the SMD and SMD receiving device, heating unit arranged movably so as to surround in a noncontact manner a portion of the SMD holding unit near the SMD and heating the SMD holding unit, and interlocking unit interlocking the heating unit with the SMD holding unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding components from a packaged component band includes a stand defining a platform allowing the packaged component band passing therealong, a first guiding unit installable to the stand beside the platform, and a second guiding unit installable to the stand next to the another end of the platform. The first guiding unit is urged to remove a package from the packaged component band to expose components at one end of the platform and guides the package toward another end of the platform. The second guiding unit accepts the package from the first guiding unit and accelerates movement of the package passing therethrough. The second guiding unit includes a first friction pulley urged to rotate, and a second friction pulley rotatably movable together with the first friction pulley and engagable with the package when the package engagably passes therethrough.

Abstract: A CPU pickup device for mounting a CPU (50) to a socket (61) includes a main body (10), a suction piece (20) and a positioning mechanism (30). The suction piece is attached to the main body. The suction piece includes a suction cup (21) for picking up the CPU by means of compelling air out from the suction cup via the main body. The positioning mechanism is attached to the main body for engaging the socket to align the CPU with the socket.

Abstract: A novel device and method for repairing MEMS systems, including probe cards for use in semiconductor testing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a probe card for use with a diagnostic computer for testing semiconductor wafers comprises a substrate, a plurality of operational probes connected to the substrate, wherein the plurality of operational probes are adapted to make an electrical connection with the diagnostic computer and a plurality of replacement probes connected to the substrate, wherein the plurality of operational probes and the plurality of replacement probes are constructed in substantially the same manufacturing process. Also disclosed is a novel probe card that can be repaired.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for assembling a customized printed circuit board having at least one electrical component. The system includes an input device for allowing a user to input predetermined information on the customized printed circuit board to be assembled. A central processing unit is operatively connected to the input device by a communications network, such as the internet. The central processing unit receives the predetermined information and generates assembly instructions in response to the predetermined information. A machine is operatively connected to the central processing unit for assembling the customized printed circuit board in response to the assembly instructions.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of components on a board. The apparatus is provided with a board holding device for holding the board at a board holding position, a first mounting head for holding and taking out a component fed from a first component feeding position and mounting the component on the board held at the board holding position, a second mounting head for holding and taking out the component fed from a second component feeding position and mounting the component on the held board, and a component feeding device having a wafer holding table for holding a wafer on which the respective components are fed so that the wafer holding table can be moved reciprocationally between the first component feeding position and the second component feeding position.

Abstract: In an electronic part mounting apparatus provided with first, second and third beam members 31, 32 and 33, all supported by a common Y-axis frame at both ends thereof, holding a chip 6 by suction from an electronic part feeding unit 2 by means of a mounting head attached to the first beam member 31, and mounting the chip onto a substrate held by first and second substrate-holding units 10A and 10B, a supporting mechanism for the substrate-holding unit (an SHU-supporting mechanism) 10 is provided which supports a slide table 50, on which the first and second substrate-holding unit 10A and 10B are arranged, in such a manner that the slide table is movable between an operating position P1 and a maintenance position P2. With such configuration, the slide table 50 can be moved to the maintenance position P2 easily accessible for maintenance, leading to the improvement of working efficiency.

Abstract: To provide an electronic component pickup method, an electronic component mounting method and an electronic component mounting device capable of stably picking up, with high productivity, an electronic component adhered and held to a carrier. An electronic component pickup method for picking up a chip 6 adhered and held to a sheet 5 with an adhesive layer 5a by way of a support tool 20 uses an adhesive containing a compound that generates a gas by radiation of light. In the pickup operation, the support tool 20 is brought into contact with the top surface of the chip 6 and a light radiating part 8 is positioned below the chip 6. Then ultraviolet light is radiated from the bottom surface of the sheet 5 onto the adhesive layer 5a positioned on the rear surface of the chip 6. When a nitrogen gas generated from the adhesive layer 5a has formed a gas layer G at the adhesive interface between the rear surface of the chip 6 and the adhesive layer 5a, the support tool 20 is lifted to pick up the chip 6.

Abstract: A component mounter includes a board transfer rail for positioning a board at a predetermined position on a base, and a transfer head for picking up a component supplied and mounting it on the board positioned by the board transfer rail. The component mounter further includes multiple dish-like members inserted to the base for supplying components placed on them to a movement area of the transfer head. These dish-like members are independently removable from the base.

Abstract: A shaft type linear motor including a stator in which plural hollow cylindrical coils are disposed so that the center through holes thereof are arranged linearly so as to form a shaft insertion hole; a driving shaft including permanent magnets, the same magnetic poles, the north or south magnetic poles, being disposed in the axial direction so as to be opposed to each other, and movably inserted into the stator; sensor units disposed in the axial direction of the stator so as to have a predetermined clearance therebetween and equipped with plural magnetic pole detection sensors that detect the magnetic field intensities of the permanent magnets and output magnetic field intensity signals; and a detection section for receiving the magnetic field intensity signals output from the magnetic pole detection sensors and for detecting the position of the driving shaft on the basis of the plural magnetic field intensity signals.

Abstract: A electronic apparatus manufacturing cell defining an electronic apparatus manufacturing cell envelope having a first side and having a second side opposite the first side. According to one aspect, the electronic apparatus manufacturing cell comprises an infeed conveyor, a pass conveyor and a reject conveyor. The infeed conveyor extends from a point outside of the electronic apparatus manufacturing cell envelope on the first side to a point inside of the envelope. The pass conveyor extends from a point inside the electronic apparatus manufacturing cell envelope to a point outside of the electronic apparatus manufacturing cell envelope on the second side. The reject conveyor extends from a point inside the electronic apparatus manufacturing cell envelope to a point outside of the electronic apparatus manufacturing cell envelope on the first side.

Abstract: The final-bonder (103) is equipped with: a warping correction unit (201) that is equipped in parallel with a backup stage (203) with a distance of about 20 mm from such backup stage (203), and that includes accordion pads (202) for sucking a liquid crystal panel; the backup stage (203) that supports, from the back, the liquid crystal panel when pressure is applied to its outer edge portion at the boding of semiconductor components; and a pressure head (204) that carries out final bonding of the semiconductor components onto the outer edge portion of the liquid crystal panel by applying pressure and heat to them.

Abstract: A method for mounting semiconductor chips onto a substrate with which substrate places are arranged in columns, whereby the semiconductor chips adhering to a foil are presented on a wafer table, whereby the detachment of a semiconductor chip from the foil is supported by means of a die ejector and whereby a pick and place device picks the semiconductor chip presented above the die ejector and deposits it onto the substrate comprises: Forward feeding the substrate along a transport direction designated as x direction, Equipping a predetermined number of columns with semiconductor chips in accordance with the steps: Moving the pick and place device to an x position corresponding to the column to be equipped, Moving the die ejector to this x position, and Equipping the substrate places of the column.

Abstract: A module for transferring a PCB including a first transfer body that is translatable along a first moving path to transfer a first PCB and a second transfer body that is translatable along a second moving path to transfer a second PCB with the second transfer body being formed with an aperture therein. Additionally the first transfer body is adjustable from a first position where the first transfer body does not fit through the aperture to a second position wherein the first transfer body can fit within the aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for continuously producing electronic film components, during which chip modules (5) are, via their electrical connecting contacts (3), placed on antenna connections (2) of antenna film sections. The invention provides that: the chip modules (5), via their rear side facing away from the connecting contacts (3), are placed on adhesive film sections (7, 8) whose base area is significantly larger than a base area of each chip module; the electric connecting contacts of the chip modules are electrically contacted by antenna connections, and; the adhesive film sections (7, 8) are flatly joined to the antenna film sections in such a manner that the chip modules are fixed in their position relative to the antenna connections. The invention is for use in flexible transponder labels.

Abstract: A peel-off device for an electronic-part delivery system has a front end portion and a recess that is indented inwardly from the front end portion, that is formed through upper and lower surfaces of the front end portion and that has a width larger than that of an electronic part of predetermined specification.

Abstract: A tape feeder for a chip mounter is provided. The tape feeder includes a frame, a first link, a second link, and a middle link. A tape is fed along the frame. The first link includes a guide unit guiding the tape and a first end rotatably connected to the frame. The first link is capable of being rotated between a closed position in which the guide unit couples with the frame to guide the tape and an open position in which the guide unit is placed away from the frame. The second link is rotatably connected to the frame and includes a first end supported relative to the frame. The middle link includes a first end rotatably connected to a second end of the first link and a second end rotatably connected to a second end of the second link.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electronic component mounting apparatus which is applicable to a case in which component feeding devices need not be provided on both sides of a carrying device respectively for reasons of types of electronic components or a setting space and increases an operating rate of a beam to enhance production efficiency. An electronic component mounting apparatus has a carrying device carrying a printed board, a component feeding device supplying electronic components, a pair of beams movable in one direction by drive sources, and mounting heads each having suction nozzles and movable along the beams by drive sources.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus and method for mounting a plurality of components on a board. The aparatus is provided with a board holding device for holding the board at a board holding position, a first mounting head for holding and taking out a component fed from a first component feeding position and mounting the component on the board held at the board holding position, a second mounting head for holding and taking out the component fed from a second component feeding position and mounting the component on the held board, and a component feeding device having a wafer holding table for holding a wafer on which the respective components are fed so that the wafer holding table can be moved reciprocationally between the first component feeding position and the second component feeding position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing electronic circuits including generating CAD data, a bill of materials and an approved component vendor list for an electronic circuit and employing the CAD data, the bill of materials and the approved component vendor list for automatically generating a pick & place machine-specific component loading specification, a pick & place machine-specific component placement sequence and pick & place machine-specific component data for governing the operation of at least one specific pick & place machine in a manufacturing line.