Putting my PnP machine to the test: the SatNOGS Encoder

After weeks of fighting with my new PnP machine, today is the day:
I’m finally putting the MicroSMT through its first real challenge: assembling the SatNOGS AS5601 encoder board.

This tiny six‑component PCB is the first step in my upcoming SatNOGS ground‑station build, and if the PnP machine can’t handle it… well, a lot of my project will stall.
*So yes — this could go so wrong.*

In this video, I take you through the entire journey:
*Why I needed a PnP machine*

Offshore assembly has become slow, expensive, and unpredictable — especially with the 50% tariff on parts and assembly. Manual assembly works for a handful of components, but not for dense boards or small production runs. A PnP machine gives me repeatability, speed, and the ability to build small batches for you.

*Building the MicroSMT (and fixing everything to my liking)*

- Like IKEA furniture… if IKEA required a 3D printer.
- I redesign brackets, holders, covers, and even the nozzle shelves.
- I sleeve cables, fixed controller mounting, and rebuild parts that simply didn’t work for my workflow.

*The fixture plate upgrade*

The stock plate is beautiful, but not drilled on a grid, not magnetic, and not suitable for repeatable fixturing.
So I designed a steel fixture plate… and drilled the hole sizes backwards.
I used it anyway. And it works.

*OpenPnP calibration chaos*

- Homing crashes.
- Backlash tuning.
- Camera calibration.
- Nozzle runout.
- Nozzle crashes.
Days of work — all leading to a single moment: *sink or swim.*

*First real job: the SatNOGS Encoder*

Six components, only six component, just what could go wrong?
- One MOSFET that refused to drop.
- One IC that wouldn’t pick up.
- A vision pipeline that hated clear tape.
- And a PnP machine that finally started behaving.

*Reflow and final test*

- ChipQuik paste, a heat plate, and a moment of panic when I forgot how the buttons worked.
- But in the end… the encoder passed the test.
- Register 0 returned zero — exactly what we needed.

Source Code
- GitHub repo: https://github.com/4111Spyglass/STM32_AS5601_Ping

Now I only have 89 more boards to assemble before moving on to the SatNOGS controller and the rest of the ground‑station build.

If you’re interested in the SatNOGS project, PnP machines, or small‑batch electronics manufacturing, stick around — this is just the beginning!

#PnPMachine #pnp #pickandplace #OpenPnP #MicroSMT #SatNOGS #AS5601 #Electronics #pcb #kicad #PCBAssembly #MakerProjects #CNC #Soldering #Reflow #DIYElectronics #Engineering #4111Spyglass

Видео Putting my PnP machine to the test: the SatNOGS Encoder канала 4111Spyglass