> SMD versions would be cheaper to manufacturer. That's true. I've once asked my PCB assembling company, and they told me how PCBs are populated:
1. solder paste is applied to the top side for SMDs using a stencil 2. top-side SMDs are placed in the paste 3. top-side SMDs are soldered (infrared, hot-air or the like) 4. bottom-side SMDs are glued in place without solder paste 5. the glue is dried. This takes its time and therefore costs money 6. top-side THTs are placed 7. top-side THTs and bottom-side SMDs are soldered (possibly selective, wave soldering or the like) 8. bottom-side THTs are placed and soldered by hand. That's expensive, of course. So, cheapest is SMD with parts on one side only. Next is THT only. Then come mixed SMD and THT with all parts on one side. Then SMD on both sides plus THT on top side only. The most expensive are PCBs with SMD and THT, both on both sides. I'm not sure where to put "SMDs on both sides, no THTs" as it could well be that no glue is necessary then. All of this only applies to automatically populated PCBs in perhaps 100 pieces or more. For low quantities, THT might even be cheaper as no solder-paste stencil has to be made. Greets, Kiste -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "jallib" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jallib?hl=en.
