I'v spent most of the weekend on selecting components, particularly steppers, ball screws and linear guides.

The firmware will run on a Freescale K64F ARM Cortex M4 MCU which is conveniently available on a FRDM K64F Mbed enabled board. I will use this board for prototyping and build separate boards for anything I need that is not on the dev board. Eventually I plan to integrate everything (except some power stuff) on one board.

I have ordered some of the parts needed:
-2 OV7660+FIFO camera modules.
-Solenoid actuator. This will be used to extend a pin which will be used to advance tape in the feeders.
-12V 5A power supply. Will power the vacuum pump, a solenoid valve, a solenoid actuator, LED rings for the cameras as well as a power supply board supplying 3.3 and 5V to other parts.

I have built some hardware:
-12V DC in, 3.3V and 5V out regulator board.
-Driver board for the vacuum pump, solenoid valve and solenoid actuator.