10 occupies similar relative positions with respect to the remaining parts of the assembly head 24 during both the pick up and the placement operation for example during the pick up operation the tip 16 moves towards the target member 70 in order to pick up a component 20 before performing the placement operation the assembly head 24 performs a pick up operation in order to couple the component 20 and the tip 16 as shown in fig1 the assembly head 24 with the component 20 coupled thereto is then moved into position over the target member 70 once the component 20 and the target member 70 are in close relation the programmable motor is actuated to move the support 40 downwards in the z direction against the bias of the spring 50 and away from the stop member 30 this action causes relative movement of the shaft 12 within the support 40 and compression of the spring 50 once the support 40 and coupled sensor 60 reach the predetermined distance from the stop member 30 the sensor 60 switches from one state to the other in order to complete the placement operation the component 20 needs to be deposited on the target member 70 with sufficient pressure to secure the component 20 to the target member 70 therefore once the sensor 60 has switched from one state to the other there should be continued downward movement of the support 40 in the z direction in order to press the component 20 and the target member 70 into closer contact with one another the additional pressure ensures that the component 20 attaches.