Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "derekhawkins" <eldata@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 3:56 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] SMD popular component sizes


>> Inside I can see surface mount resistors which must only be
>> 2mm or less long and 1mm wide.
>
> 0805 - 2 X 1.25 mm
> 0603 - 1.6 X .8 mm
> 0402 - 1 X .5 mm
> 0201 - .6 X .3 mm
>
> Currently I buy and hand solder down to 0402s (small quantities).
> Down to 0603 is a piece of cake but problem with 0402 is visual
> confirmation of proper solder joint and for that I either use a
> camera (macro shot) or microscope. Just using a DIMM isn't good
> enough.
>
> This is coming from someone who needs glasses in order to read or see
> just about anything properly in a 3' radius. Those with younger eyes
> will be amazed at how something that appears daunting at first soon
> becomes a walk in the park. Many of us can probably recall when
> soldering even a 1206 (3.2 X 1.6 mm) seemed like an impossible task.

I routinely use 0805 and don't have problems with 0603, although I'm 63. I 
do need to use plenty of magnification, sometimes a microscope is necessary.

Leon