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<p>I'll do simple prototypes but bigger projects with lots of fine
pitch parts I send out for fab. I wanna keep what little hair I
have left...</p>
<p>--timbo<br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 7/18/2017 4:16 PM, Quincas Moreira
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CA+u0JtmJ6dbFCfh9n2nsDaAKGY0iD3pOEXJ3Y_frw36SvsYLGw@mail.gmail.com">
<div dir="ltr">right on</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 6:10 PM, <span
dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rsdio@audiobanshee.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">rsdio@audiobanshee.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Sure, it's
not that hard. I have soldering tweezers for SMD resistors,
capacitors, and even ICs up to 14-pin. But at a certain
point you reach diminishing returns. There is time and money
invested, and I'd rather save my time and money for things
that I cannot pay someone else to do. I make a whole lot
more progress towards my electronics goals by avoiding 99%
of SMD work.<br>
<br>
I will admit that it's good to spend some amount of time
honing the skills. I recently designed a board with an
optional op-amp that ended up performing worse than a
straight connection. Fortunately, I design the PCB with
traces for a SMD jumper so I could remove the op-amp and
still connect the signal directly. I did that rework myself,
because removing an 8-pin SMD and adding a two-conductor
0-Ohm resistor was a cinch. So, there's a balance between
doing a lot of manual SMD versus just hitting a couple of
parts for a quick mod.<br>
<br>
Brian<br>
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5"><br>
<br>
On Jul 18, 2017, at 3:57 PM, Quincas Moreira <<a
href="mailto:quincas@gmail.com" moz-do-not-send="true">quincas@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
> Oh, c'mon it's not that hard, just takes some
getting used to! I've only done the Ornament and Crime
so far, but I'm looking forward to more :)<br>
><br>
> On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 5:17 PM, <<a
href="mailto:rsdio@audiobanshee.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">rsdio@audiobanshee.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>> Same here. I just pay shops like Printed
Circuits Assembly Corp. or Schippers & Crew to do
SMD work. They have all the tools, microscopes, and
experience. PCA will also do rework, which I take
advantage of when replacing a component with more than
two leads.<br>
>><br>
>> I realize that not every city has multiple
assembly shops, and some don't even have one, but these
services are becoming available remotely. Advanced
Circuits (4PCB.com) offer services where they'll make
the PCB and stuff the parts for you. Not sure about the
prices there, but it's got to be cheaper than buying the
tools yourself and losing money every time you make a
mistake. It's probably a bit difficult to get a kit
made, but it's worth requesting a quote.<br>
>><br>
>> I once needed a pull-up resistor added to a
144-pin DSP, and PCA asked if they could use any size
resistor. I agreed, and when it came back, the flying
wire and resistor were so small (0201) that I couldn't
see them. Saved me from spinning the board for that one
change, and also saved me from the risk of ruining one
of only two prototypes that I had.<br>
>><br>
>> Brian<br>
>><br>
>> On Jul 18, 2017, at 2:23 PM, David G Dixon <<a
href="mailto:dixon@mail.ubc.ca" moz-do-not-send="true">dixon@mail.ubc.ca</a>>
wrote:<br>
>> > This post sums up why I simply will not do
SMD by hand. Not... worth... the... frustration.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > From: Synth-diy On Behalf Of Elain Klopke<br>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 12:16 AM<br>
>> > To: *SYNTH DIY<br>
>> > Subject: [sdiy] Need help with a SMD kit
(OT?)<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Hey list,<br>
>> ><br>
>> > I bought the Elements diy kit from
Synthcube and managed to get all the surface mount
components attached using solder paste, a tiny syringe,
and a hot plate. Everything melted nicely and I only
burnt the solder mask a bit because I wasn't quick
enough getting it off the hot plate, but the copper
traces appear to be still attached to the board so I'm
not too worried.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > And then the problems started. I let the
board cool down and then started going about eliminating
solder bridges on a couple of the ICs. I cleaned up one
side of the microcontroller and then made the other
three worse. I got one chip that was a little crooked
seated properly and then another popped free and I
couldn't get it resoldered.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > I've stepped away from the kit so I don't
do more damage or throw it against the wall in
frustration.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Is there anyone experienced in surface
mount soldering (preferably in the US) that would be
willing to fix this mess for me. I'm way out of my depth
and am willing to pay postage both ways and a fee for
your time.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Thanks in advance.<br>
>> ><br>
<br>
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</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<div><br>
</div>
-- <br>
<div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Quincas
Moreira<br>
Test Pilot at VBrazil Modular</div>
</div>
<br>
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</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
--Tim Ressel
Circuit Abbey
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:timr@circuitabbey.com">timr@circuitabbey.com</a></pre>
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