I've been looking for a good microscope for a while but they are pricey.
My eyes aren't what they used to be I want to get more into smd
Maybe you can take some pics with your Dino Lite and share?
What model # is it?
Thanks
--- On Mon, 2/23/09, pgdion1 <pgdion1@...> wrote:
From: pgdion1 <pgdion1@...>
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Surface Mount
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 11:29 AM
Hi Jerry,
Once you get used to SMD, you'll never want to do through hole again!
I try to minimize all holes just to save drilling (which for me is the
biggest pain). Once you get used to them, the SMD parts are actually
pretty nice to work with. 0805's are the nicest and still have the
values marked on the package, but the 0603 size is good too if you
need to save space.
As for traces, beating 15/15 is no problem with TT. 10/10 is easily
obtained and I do it regularly (usually 12/12 rules with 10/10 where I
need it like the TQFP's). In a pinch, I can do 8/8 although consistent
traces and spaces at this level can be difficult as I still apply my
toner with a hand iron ... to little pressure and the trace gets
sparse, to much and ... where's the space? It's very doable though and
many boards have a few 8/8's on them.
My printer is an HP (both my 1200 and the 8000 series at work do an
excellent job ... the 1200 with reman cartridges is actually slightly
better).
Hey, cool microscope for this ... the Dino Lite PC scopes. Just got
one at work and it is excellent! A little pricey at $320 but really a
nice little scope. There are many off brands for under $100 at Amazon
(some around 50 to 60, not as nice as the Dino Lite though). I'm going
to try one of those for home and hope it's not too cheesy.
Phil (KA0HBG)
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@ yahoogroups. com, "jerrytr2.com" <jerry@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> Since encountering this group a month or so ago, I have refined my
> toner transfer process to the point that I am able to reliably do 15-
> mil traces. Maybe smaller. Hope so.
>
> I'm doing a home project and have settled on PIC24F
> microcontrollers. The latest version needs USB, and all the PICs
> that support USB are surface mount. So I have been dragged kicking
> and screaming into the 21st century.
>
> I bought an Aoyue 968 hot-air SMD rework station and some fine
> tweezers and have been having a good time scrounging parts off some
> defunct computer boards - just to get used to the tool. I'm going to
> need a microscope - half of these parts just look like bits of dirt!
>
> One part I scrounged is the same package as the 24FJ256GB106
> processor I'm planning to use - a 64-pin TQFP. Good LORD those pins
> are small. Can Toner Transfer make boards this tight? According to
> the spec sheet, the pin pitch is .5mm, or about 20 thousandths of an
> inch. So the traces need to be 10 thousandths of an inch, and will
> only have 10 thousandths of separation. Ouch.
>
> - Jerry Kaidor
>
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