A composite placement machine has a simplified fiber delivery path from a creel to a lay-up table. A carriage is mounted for motion in the Y-axis along the length of an overhead beam. A composite placement head having a shiftable compaction roller is supported by the carriage. A stationary creel at one end of the overhead beam forms a band of composite material having a width that extends in the X-axis. A lay-up table is mounted for motion in the X-axis and rotary motion about a C-axis that is perpendicular to the X and Y-axes. The motion of the head in the Y-axis, the shiftable compaction roller, and the motion of the lay-up table X-axis and the C-axis allows the head to apply composite material to the lay-up table in both Y-axis directions in any orientation without twisting the band of composite material relative to the X and Y-axes.
