[sdiy] SDIY -vs RoHS - more

[Magnus Danielson]

From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1 at airmail.net>
Subject: [sdiy] SDIY -vs RoHS - more
Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 12:13:15 -0500
Message-ID: <0bb601c55ef1$8c8605d0$0201a8c0 at bilbo>

Paul,

<Good points deleted>

> But it won't be an overnight thing. It will be a 3-5yr thing but it WILL greatly 
> effect all of us, including end-product suppliers like MOTM, Doepfer, Serge, 
> etc. This will happen in 2 areas:
> 
> a) shipping *into* Europe and people building in Europe

ROHS is a European thing, but it will affect globally since buissness is no
longer as tied locally as it once was. ROHS compliance is a great thing now and
about everyone in the industry is showing up their ROHS compliant solutions
right now, they got to if they want to be playing the game. This will affect
everyone regardless if they want to or not. There are execeptions which doesn't
have to go lead-free and telecom is one, however, much of the components will
be lead-free anyway.

Europe will turn into a "dead market" unless you turn ROHS compliant. I don't
know about the sale-statistics, but I'd guess there are a few good MOTM
customers over here, just to make an arbitrary example.

> b) availability of parts, and what will be the greatest immediate effect is 
> leaded resistors/caps/diodes/etc. Because, what % of these types of parts are
> shipped *today* in non-SMT? I'll guess <5%. Next year? ZIP!

SMT is here to stay. ROHS is just helping to push the case. There will be ROHS
compliant components around which is good old thru hole, but many will be
killed. It's sad, but it is good that we get rid of this poison too.

We will actually see excisting products (complete boxes) killed by the ROHS.
I know one vendor that will not be able to update a number of products to ROHS
compliant since they figure the cost will not really make up for the additional
lifetime of the product.

We've already seen a number of SMT DIY projects, so it is possible. This thing
is like going from hard-wire to ceramic bridges, and from ceramic bridges to
printed circuit boards, we are just taking another step here fellas!

Let's just make sure that there are good semis around. Some good thru-holes
will make it, but others will not be worth it.

The one thing that I would like to do myself is thru-hole plating so that I
could do my own two-layer boards reasnoble handy. But then again, it has become
very cheap to have them made vias and all! Guess I'm just wishing for that fiz
in the tank feeling again.

Cheers,
Magnus