[sdiy] SDIY -vs RoHS - more

[Benjamin Riggs]

Draw up the circuit you want in a CAD program, specifying the related I/O
pins in the circuit, compile and program a general purpose micro with analog
I/O? nice, but that is getting way ahead of the point I was trying to make.

It just sounds like lead free SMT is the way of the not too distant future,
like it or not (good or bad), I just think we should all start considering
doing our stuff that way.

Ben.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of Doug Terrebonne
Sent: Monday, 23 May 2005 7:52 PM
To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: RE: [sdiy] SDIY -vs RoHS - more

Might we also see the day when there are software versions of these
chips and other components that are indistinguishable from the real
thing? 

Doug

--- Benjamin Riggs <Ben.r at iinet.net.au> wrote:
> 
> The threads of late are definitely putting the way I do stuff in a
> different
> light. With a lot of parts that we use and have used no longer being
> manufactured and the way we build circuits is going to change
> (whether we
> like it or not), maybe we should seriously consider adapting, rather
> than
> trying to stock up for the endless winter ahead. Tomg has already
> started
> this by getting rid of the 3080 in all his circuits. We are always
> going to
> have resistors, diodes, transistors and opamps. The loss of the OTAs
> is a
> pain, a hurdle, but it's not the end of the world. Its just change.
> 
> I recon we should all start doing our stuff lead free as soon as we
> can
> (whether we like the reasoning behind it or not). Keep the stocks of
> old
> parts that we got to keep out old stuff going, and do all our new
> stuff in
> lead free SMT.
> 
> I have no doubt that lead free SMT will be just as good to work with
> as
> leaded throughhole one day. Just cause it sucks goats now, doesn't
> mean it
> always will, the technology will mature.
> 
> If we don't embrace the future, it will leave us behind. My two
> cents.
> 
> Ben.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of Magnus
> Danielson
> Sent: Monday, 23 May 2005 6:52 AM
> To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] SDIY -vs RoHS - more
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
>