Re: gEDA-user: Surface mounted circuits in hobby projects

[Gabriel Paubert <paubert@xxxxxxx>]

On Thu, Apr 02, 2009 at 08:43:56AM +0100, Peter TB Brett wrote:
> On Thursday 02 April 2009 08:32:09 Peter Carlsson wrote:
> > Hello!
> >
> > I have just started my first hobby project with gEDA and
> > noticed that some circuits I need is only available as
> > surface mounted circuits.
> >
> > How do you handle this problem? Or is it a problem?
> 
> It's not necessarily a problem -- it's actually not particularly hard to hand 
> solder SMT components, with a little practice.

Well, except for BGA and chips which have ground pads in
the middle (for me LT3510 and LT1940 have been somewhat
challenging).

Realistically, you'll need a hot plate and solder paste
(kept in a fridge) for this kind of chips. Avoid lead-free 
solder and paste like the plague too.

You also need good tweezers for the smallest components like
resistors, capacitors, diodes, small transistors, etc.
Size 0603(1608) and larger are easy, 0402(1005) and smaller
become more challenging. The smallest one I've soldered is
a 03015(0804) choke (exactly half 0603 in both directions, 
at 9GHz it has to be small). 

The next step will be 15x15mil but it's a bare chip and 
I recently got a second hand bonding machine at work for 
this (not yet taken out of the box).

	Gabriel


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