Most of the stuff has been small for years but the mounts (IC Carriers) were big and dictated by the industry. Mostly because through hole components were the rage for many years. Newer and better machines were developed, with precision placement and even vision that could place and tack the components and ever since it has been a shrinking world. There are some really good gains in physics, performance and costs associated with making the parts smaller. Processing is easier and more reliable in the industry with these parts, if you have not seen the process you are missing something - this is absolutely amazing technology. Here is a link to a video for pick and place process;
http://www.apsgold.com/l-series.html?gclid=CLHBxeuEn5MCFQciIgodzDvorw So what we do here is the exception or usually reserved for rework or small run hobby stuff - these parts are designed for machine placement and very sophisticated soldering techniques. When industry does this process it involves thousands of parts and solder joints and literally runs error free and almost never produces a bad solder joint. In the modern process most of the visual work is done by a computer. This combined with finer layouts and the micro components is what keeps the cost down and the functionality high per assembly. 73, Ray, N0FY SKCC 3704 FH 997 _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of ehydra Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 11:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [softrock40] Re: Smt caps Recently I got a NXP sample card with sizes down to 0.35mm pitch. I wonder how it is possible to solder that stuff in a industrial production line? (I don't work with such small stuff. 0603 is small enough) .. and don't understand what is so great making things so (unhandle) small?? - Henry k5nwa schrieb: > At 10:33 AM 5/11/2008, you wrote: >> You are obviously bragging on your steady hands and eagle eyes! >> >> 73 de Robby WB5RVZ > > I recently acquired some reels of 805 parts and I decided that is the > limit on how low I will go on purpose. I'm getting old, I do need a > serious set of head visors, pretty much most of the new good stuff is > only available in micro-sized packages. > > > Cecil > K5NWA > www.softrockradio.org www.qrpradio.com > > "Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light." -- www.ehydra.dyndns.info
