METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PICKING AND PLACING WORKPIECES INTO SMALL FORM FACTOR HARD DISK DRIVES

A method of picking and placing a workpiece relative to a disk drive may include steps of providing a robotically controlled tool, a servo motor assembly for moving the tool, at least one controller for controlling the tool and the servo motor assembly, and a machine vision assembly coupled to the controller and located relative to the tool so that a selected feature is within a field of view of the machine vision assembly while the tool is picking up the workpiece. The workpiece may be coupled to the tool, and the workpiece may be aligned with the selected feature of the disk drive using the machine vision assembly and the controller to control the servo motor assembly, such that the workpiece is aligned with the selected feature. The aligned workpiece may then be placed onto the selected feature of the disk drive.