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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Question(s) to all DIY-ers

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kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 02:05am 20 Dec 2014

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For a little personal research:

Assuming you need to assemble a board by yourself, what would be your preference:
- for ICs: SOIC 1.27mm pitch or DIP?
- for passives: 1206 or equivalent size through-hole?
- for discrete semi's: SOT23 or TO92?

Thanks!

http://rittle.org

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bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2875

Posted: 02:10am 20 Dec 2014

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Hi Kon,

My preference would definitely be through hole entirely but of course that comes at a cost of PCB real estate.

I could handle either but the smaller the parts and the older I get the harder they get to see.

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

paceman
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Joined: 07/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1329

Posted: 02:17am 20 Dec 2014

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I've used all three of those SMD's Kon and don't have any problem with them, they'd be my preference because of the real-estate gain, but either way no problem.

Greg

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 02:41am 20 Dec 2014

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I too have used all those, and all of them are fine by me.

If you are designing a board for other people to assemble, then it is a good rule of thumb to stick to full-size, thru-hole parts that everyone can solder no problems.

If it is a board you are going to supply assembled, then you can please yourself.

As for SMD sizes, I settled on 1206 because 1210 is so big, you might as well use full-size

and 0805 is too small for my taste. SOT23 seems tiny when you are new to SMD soldering, but they are just as easy as SOIC to solder. It does come down to personal preference to some extent - whatever works for you.

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hitsware
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Joined: 23/11/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 535

Posted: 05:33am 20 Dec 2014

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Through hole only for me

viscomjim
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Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925

Posted: 08:20am 20 Dec 2014

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Kiiid, right now only thru hole, but hopefully when the uMite controlled reflow oven is working, that could very well change to all surface mount. Keeping fingers crossed!

brucepython

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Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 64

Posted: 10:39am 20 Dec 2014

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Much as I love the size and tidiness of SMD layouts, due to eyesight and other problems it's thru-hole discrete components all the way with me. Edited by brucepython 2014-12-21

palcal

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Joined: 12/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1808

Posted: 11:28am 20 Dec 2014

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I'm 71 and at first resisted SMD but now I do all my projects this way. I found it is just a matter of practice and devising ways to hold the components while soldering.
The boards are so much smaller and neater.
Paul.

"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"

vasi

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Joined: 23/03/2007
Location: Romania
Posts: 1697

Posted: 12:39pm 21 Dec 2014

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Wow Paul, what soldering iron are you using?

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JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3683

Posted: 01:12pm 21 Dec 2014

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If this was really meant for all DIY-ers. I can only just about cope with full size through hole components.

SMD - no thanks!

Tiny boards so SMD are required - hell no, gimme a bigger board.

John

Gordz
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Joined: 10/08/2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 55

Posted: 07:34pm 21 Dec 2014

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I have also used all of those smd sizes and considering that you can get 10 good quality double sided pcb at 50mm x 50mm for about US$10.00 I use smd as much as possible. I use a magnifying setup made from a cheap system from Jaycar. If anyone is interested I will post a few pics of my latest version which also has fume extraction. I wear glasses for reading etc. and this works out great for me. The latest Jaycar magnifying glass also has a smaller integrated 'high power' magnification spot.

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2875

Posted: 10:23pm 21 Dec 2014

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Gday Kon,

If you intend to sell a kit of parts for someone to build, you should keep as much as possible to through hole components.

Taking my MuP as an example. I have two SMD devices (the Vreg needn't be SMD as I also cater for To-92 and To-220 options). but the 47uF cap is SMD...

I offer MuP in several options one is Bare PCB with SMD VReg (SOT23) and SMD Cap (3225 or 1216) presoldered. I set a fee of $3 for the `service' of pre-soldering these as I figured by the time I dug my soldering iron out of the Van and set up with Mag light and soldered the 2 parts that nearly 20min has gone by even though the actual job to solder them takes about 3min. I really didnt believe that there would be many people electing that option as it put the PCB+ presoldered components to $8.. I was wrong, I have sold quite a few of the `Option 3' and I can only surmise that this is because people are scared of SMD soldering, as I was until I tried it for myself. I am now soldering the 0805 SMDs and the 0.65mm pitch SSOP Pic32MX170 without much drama..

By that assessment I believe that you will limit your market if you sell a kit based on SMD components.

Regards,

Mick

Edited by bigmik 2014-12-23

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 11:13am 22 Dec 2014

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Big thanks to everyone for the responses. I have now the information that I needed and will design my new board to fit any flavour.

http://rittle.org

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muddy0409

Senior Member

Joined: 15/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 125

Posted: 03:12pm 22 Dec 2014

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bigmik said Hi Kon,

My preference would definitely be through hole entirely but of course that comes at a cost of PCB real estate.

I could handle either but the smaller the parts and the older I get the harder they get to see.

Mick

Yeah,what Mick said!

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Remember that everything ever discovered started somewhere as a theory.

palcal

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Joined: 12/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1808

Posted: 07:11pm 22 Dec 2014

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@ Vasi
I just use an ordinary soldering station with a 1mm conical tip and fine solder. I do have a binocular microscope with spring loaded arms that can usually be used to hold the component. The microscope cost abot $120 from the U.S. When I'm using the larger SMDs 0805, 1206, I can get by with a magnifier and 'normally closed' tweezers to hold the components.
Paul.

"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"

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