I looked into surface mount and I was taken aback about the $1000's
of dollars to get all the equipment needed.
The resisters in particular are so small they look like fly specks.
You need a binocular micro scope just to see them let alone handle
them. I decided to stick to through hole whenever possible. Some
times the PC board company charges a lot more for over 350 holes. I
decided to experiment with 1/10 watt resisters surface mounted.
The other problem is there are no markings on surface mount
resisters which makes it hard to trouble shoot mistakes in values.
I built a rig on a standard Pana Vise to hold the resister in place
with a small alligator clip while I soldered it.
This is what it looks like.
Paul Lamar
Hi Paul;
A number of vendors make boards to simplify surface mount chips:
http://www.electroboards.com/
http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=products
Fine pitch tips, soldering paste and a good soldering station go a
long way. You can get away with a large magnification loop in many
cases, although 0201 parts are still small. 0402/0603+ are easier.
Younger eyes help. I also found it helps to get different value
resistors/components from different vendors to aid visual id.
A lot of PCB companies can economically stuff your boards with pick
and place machines. Testing was way more expensive. or you can stuff
your own boards in an old toaster oven...
Cheers Cary Beazly
I did not know you were into electronics Cary. After all the years on
the newsletter :)
Paul Lamar
Paul, we do prototyping without all the special equipment. Lots of good
light and
Mageyes head-worn magnifier, the most expensive part is a proper Metcal
soldering
station. SMT is a new technology and requires some learning.
Proper flux and good solder paste is a big help. Be happy you can use
tin-lead solder, for our export production we need to
use lead free solder and that is no fun.
David Josephson
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