===== PCB Stencils =====

Unless you get a dispenser module add-on, you'll need to silkscreen / screenprint solder paste onto the PCBs. Most PCB stencils are made of stainless steel and last years. Right now [[http://ladyada.net/wiki/laserinfo/pcb_stencils|we make our stencils out of kapton (polyamide) with a laser cutter]]

You can also get this done for you as a service from [[http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/446|Pololu]], or [[http://www.ohararp.com/Stencils.html|Ohararp]] It should be $20 or so for a small sheet. 

===== Digi-Reels =====

Say you want to make 100 accelerometer boards (using the ADXL335) but you're not keen on buying 2000 pieces that make up a full reel. You could try to go with cut tape (hassle) //or// you can go with a "[[http://dkc1.digikey.com/US/EN/help/DigiReel.html|digi-reel]]". This is a service offered by [[http://www.digikey.com|Digikey]] where they will take a piece of cut tape and add a leader (long piece of 'empty' tape) and footer  so that you can mount it on a pick and place. Its kind of brilliant, and costs only $7 on top of parts cost. You can also make your own, of course, by saving old tape. 

===== Sticky tape =====

Test your parts placement by laying down double-sided sticky tape onto a PCB. It'll keep the parts in place without the mess of paste

===== Nozzle sizes =====

Use the biggest nozzle you can to pick up parts. The bigger the nozzle, the less slipping you'll get