[sdiy] Humans are not Becoming Smaller (was: SMD comming your way)

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Sunday 29 May 2005 04:26 pm, Sten Björnebro wrote:
> On 29 May 2005 11:39:57 -0400
> "R. D. Davis" <rdd at rddavis.org> wrote:
>
> Hi  R.D Davis
>
> Yes SMD is comming my whay.
>
> > Quothe Magnus Danielson, from writings of Sun, May 29, 2005 at
> >
> > 12:49:16PM +0200:
> > > Not to mention the floor in that whole area. I'd say your at least 10
> > > meters walking distance from non-ESD floorspace where you sit.
> >
> > Who in their right mind wants all that needless complexity?
>
> A modern serious  developmentelectronic labb.

I guess it depends on what you're trying to do...

> > Anti-static tweezers, anti-static soldering irons, extra large areas
> > of non-ESD floorspace, magnifying glasses for all assembly work, etc.,
> > humbug!  With the types of circuits and equipment that we're building,
> > circuit boards, chasis, etc. don't have to be tiny.  It's bad enough
> > that some people are miniaturizing switches, jacks, plugs and other
> > controls as if people are shrinking as well, but the fact is, people
> > are not shrinking in size.
>
> The shrinking of elektronic is not only about smaller equipment.  Its about
> speed , price and funktion. Thats what we have to live whith. The company on
> the market is copetteting about speed , price  and funktion. If not fixing
> that you could be out of business. And no work is no good:-(

Mostly it's about better utilization of board space and more compact assembly 
and most of all cheaper assembly compared to through-hole components.

In other words,  it's for the convenience of the manufacturers.  The 
convenience of the hobbyist,  the hacker/modifier,  or the repair person is 
not being considered in this economic picture.  The fact that this stuff ends 
up getting thrown out and not repaired is not a cost that the manufacturer 
has to bear,  in most cases,  it's instead borne by other folks.

> > Again, please pay attention to this, some people on this list don't
> > appear to realize, or be able to comprehend, the following: humans are
> > not shrinking in size so as to be able to find vastly smaller
> > components more convenient for SDIY.
> >
> > There's no need to make everything so small that circuit design,
> > building, modification, troubleshooting, repair, etc. becomes an
> > inconvenience.  Hobbies should be fun, as should careers, so there's
> > no reason to be working with such small devices in many instances, for
> > the purposes of an income or a hobby.
>
> I have been in to this since i was i kid and done this just for fun.
> And it is my hobby. Why should time stopp?
>
> Are you making tube synthesizer

Some people are,  apparently.

> Or typing this text on tube based computers?

I wouldn't want to try!

> > Remember, if it's a nuisance to assemble, it's going to be even more
> > of a nuisance to modify.  The more tiny parts that hobbyists, small
> > businesses, etc. start buying, the fewer the larger, through-hole,
> > components will be sold, and that might be enough to convince some
> > lower-volume suppliers, that sell to hobbyists and small businesses,
> > to stop carrying the larger components.
>
> Start learning SMD electronic before it's too late.
> Hobby SMD-DYI should been starting 10 years ago.

It did,  for some folks.  I'll pass,  thanks -- I have *NO* intentions of 
going there,  for as long as I can manage to avoid it.