I Always use sockets now Re: [sdiy] IC socket question

[Seb Francis]

Magnus Danielson wrote:

> From: Cynthia Webster <cynthia.webster at gte.net>
> Subject: I Always use sockets now Re: [sdiy] IC socket question
> Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 16:54:23 -0800
>
> Hi Cynthia,
>
> > This is interesting to me because I'd been taught to insist on machined pin
> > sockets over all others.  They call them "High Reliability" yet many folks
> > here say otherwise!  (I know that they can be pure hell sometimes
> > -just getting the chips into them without bending pins!)
>
> There is a real issue with ICs and sockets. DIPs are made so that when they
> are put onto the PCB, they will hopefully stay there until you've soldered.
> This is done by letting the pins be slight bent outwards, thus allowing for
> them to work as a kind of spring holding them put in their holes.
>
> Naturally that makes the actual placement of holes being slightly denser than
> where the lower ends of the pins actually hit. If you have a socket with
> propper dimensions you will experience this as a problem. There are however two
> solutions to this problem:
>
> 1) Slightly bend the pins by a small plier. Personally I use my favorite tool,
>    a small Stirex to do the work. You better work pin-for-pin in order to get
>    a good result. While this is a bit labour intensive (doesn't take that much
>    time once you've got the hang of it) it will make the insertion process
>    much more painless.
>
> 2) Use a professional inserter. There are specially designed inserters. They
>    will grab the chip and bend all the pins flat down for you. You only need to
>    aim and release to get it right. A good one surely cost money, but I am
>    quite sure that this is the way to go for serious buissness folks. A good
>    tool in the right hand both makes the job quicker and better and is worth
>    it's money just cause you get less hassel and better quality.
>
> Since what I do normally fall into DIY, I choose option 1, but you might want
> to consider option 2. I'd at least recommend you to consider the option.

Quite by accident I found this little tool in Maplin (UK) .. works a treat for bending pins exactly right ..
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/Module.asp?VM=2553

They also have an IC inserting tool for £0.99 (not sure how good it is tho)
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/Module.asp?VM=2558

Seb