shine light onto component 200 and to detect it within the same housing but it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the explicit configuration of sensor 100 as shown for example other configurations of the light source with respect to the detector electronics may be implemented but will be understood to be within the scope of the present invention a conveyor system not shown transports a printed circuit pc board not shown into and out of machine 102 sensor head 50 is linearly translatable in three directions x y z and is capable of angularly rotating component 200 via motion control system 108 in pick and place machine 102 each motor runs independently from the other motors by turning a threaded shaft which causes head 50 to slide along an appropriate gantry or slide x y gantries or slides shown respectively at reference designator 56 and 58 the pick and place machine of the sort shown in fig2 is typically called a lead screw pick and place machine although other sorts of pick and place machines may be utilized in the method and apparatus of the present invention such as those with valves or linear motors rather than lead screws fig5 is a detailed electrical block diagram of sensor 100 the main electronics board within sensor 100 has several connectors although it is understood that the other embodiments may combine functionality within the.