File:The Machine to Build the Machines

In 1986, NeXT saw the possibility of fitting all the power and technology of the most advanced computer workstations into a one foot cube. To accomplish this, we aggressively pursued Surface Mount Technology, a process which would allow us to build an entire computer system onto one printed circuit board. This set into motion a plan to build the most sophisticated manufacturing system ever employed for Surface Mount Technology. The system would be fully automated to fulfill NeXT's goals: High quality, high consistency, high yield, low cost. It would also mount components closer together on a computer circuit board than ever before.