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Introduction

The PikkoBot Vertex 4 is a desktop pick-and-place machine built on the open-source LumenPnP hardware platform, originally designed by Opulo Inc. and licensed under CERN-OHL-W. It runs OpenPnP for placement control and supports JUKI nozzles, Photon auto feeders, and standard 8/12/16 mm tape feeders.

Capabilities​

  • Component sizes from 0402 to 25 mm² ICs and through-hole connectors
  • Dual nozzle head (JUKI-compatible)
  • Top and bottom cameras for fiducial detection and component alignment
  • Photon auto feeders and drag feeders
  • 500 × 400 mm work area

Specifications​

ParameterValue
Work area500 × 400 mm
CameraGlobal shutter, top + bottom
NozzlesDual head, JUKI-compatible
FeedersPhoton auto feeders + drag feeders
ControllerVertex 4 mainboard (Marlin firmware)
SoftwareOpenPnP
Power24 V DC

Two Purchase Options​

Pre-assembled​

Ready to use after software setup:

  • Fully assembled frame
  • Mainboard and wiring harness pre-connected
  • Top and bottom cameras pre-mounted
  • Dual nozzle head with JUKI nozzles
  • 24 V power supply

Kit​

Assembly required — see Kit Assembly:

  • All machined and 3D-printed parts
  • Mainboard, motors, cameras
  • Hardware bag (fasteners, pneumatic fittings)
  • JUKI nozzles

Requirements​

  • Workbench: minimum 80 × 60 cm clear space
  • Computer: Windows or macOS, USB 2.0 port, OpenPnP runs on Java 11+
  • Compressed air: built-in pump, or external compressor at 0.4–0.6 MPa
  • Working knowledge of SMT assembly and OpenPnP basics

Before You Start​

Three things go wrong most often on a first setup, and all three are avoidable before you plug anything in.

USB bandwidth. The top camera, the bottom camera and the mainboard all talk over USB. Plug the two cameras into separate USB controllers if you can — on most laptops that means one on each side. Running everything through a cheap unpowered hub produces dropped frames that look like a camera fault but aren't.

Bench clearance behind the machine. The gantry parks at the front-left after homing, but cable chains and the air line need room at the back. Leave 10 cm behind the frame and don't route the USB cables across the work area.

Java version. OpenPnP 2.6 will not start on Java 8. Check with java -version before you install anything else; if it reports 1.8, install a current JDK first.

Pick Your Path​

Find your situation below and follow that page only — jumping between chapters is how people end up with two conflicting configurations saved.

What a First Job Looks Like​

The usual order for the very first board, start to finish:

  1. Home the machine and confirm both nozzles are level before homing runs. Skipping this is the single most common cause of a nozzle crash on a new machine.
  2. Load one feeder with a tape you don't care about, and step it with the forward button until a component sits in the pick window.
  3. Set the pick height for that feeder by jogging Z down until the nozzle just touches the part. Write the number down.
  4. Run a placement on a scrap board with a single component. Confirm the part lands where the board outline says it should.
  5. Only then load the real job.

Doing it in this order means every failure is isolated to one variable. Load a full job first and a placement error can be the camera, the calibration, the feeder height or the board origin — and you'll have no way to tell which.

Going Deeper​

Once you've completed initial setup, explore these resources:

  • Calibration Guide — Fine-tune cameras, nozzles, and fiducial detection
  • Feeder Overview — Set up Photon or AS feeders for automated component feeding
  • FAQ — Common questions and troubleshooting

Blog Posts for Practical Tips​

Ready to buy? Visit the Store.