A composites lamination system comprising a six-axis positioner and multiple removable heads (14, 51-54) for applying composite material to a tool, the system comprising: - a gantry and a wrist comprising the six-axis positioner, wherein the gantry has two spaced uprights that support a crossbeam, wherein the uprights and the crossbeam are movable in a X-axis; - a work zone for a tool positioned between the two spaced uprights; - a movable column supported on the crossbeam, wherein the column is movable relative to the crossbeam in a Y-axis and a Z-axis, wherein the wrist is mounted on the column, wherein the wrist rotates around an I-axis parallel to the X-axis, around a J-axis parallel to the Y-axis, and around a K-axis parallel to the Z-axis; - a replaceable head (14, 51-54) mounted on the wrist on the end of the K-axis, whereby the gantry and the wrist provide six axis of motion for the replaceable head (14, 51-54), and removal of the head (14, 51-54) from the wrist allows the six axis of motion to remain with the positioner; - a docking zone positioned outside of the work zone, and outside of the two spaced uprights; - a plurality of docking stations for the replaceable head (14, 51-54) in the docking zone, wherein at least one of the docking stations comprising a live docking station, whereby the live docking station is able to couple at least one of electrical power, pneumatic power, and signals to a head (14, 51-54) positioned in the live docking station, wherein one end of the crossbeam extends beyond one of the spaced uprights and over the docking zone, whereby the column may travel across the crossbeam from a position over the work zone to a position over the docking zone, and whereby the column may deposit a head (14, 51-54) in an empty docking station in the docking zone or pick up a head (14, 51-54) in the docking zone. - a gantry and a wrist comprising the six-axis positioner, wherein the gantry has two spaced uprights that support a crossbeam, wherein the uprights and the crossbeam are movable in a X-axis; - a work zone for a tool positioned between the two spaced uprights; - a movable column supported on the crossbeam, wherein the column is movable relative to the crossbeam in a Y-axis and a Z-axis, wherein the wrist is mounted on the column, wherein the wrist rotates around an I-axis parallel to the X-axis, around a J-axis parallel to the Y-axis, and around a K-axis parallel to the Z-axis; - a replaceable head (14, 51-54) mounted on the wrist on the end of the K-axis, whereby the gantry and the wrist provide six axis of motion for the replaceable head (14, 51-54), and removal of the head (14, 51-54) from the wrist allows the six axis of motion to remain with the positioner; - a docking zone positioned outside of the work zone, and outside of the two spaced uprights; - a plurality of docking stations for the replaceable head (14, 51-54) in the docking zone, wherein at least one of the docking stations comprising a live docking station, whereby the live docking station is able to couple at least one of electrical power, pneumatic power, and signals to a head (14, 51-54) positioned in the live docking station, wherein one end of the crossbeam extends beyond one of the spaced uprights and over the docking zone, whereby the column may travel across the crossbeam from a position over the work zone to a position over the docking zone, and whereby the column may deposit a head (14, 51-54) in an empty docking station in the docking zone or pick up a head (14, 51-54) in the docking zone.