22 Jun
2010
22 Jun
'10
11:55 a.m.
Yeah, if I was
buying a kit like this, I'd certainly want the surface
mount stuff soldered. Requiring the skills and equipment to solder a
high pin count QFP device is a barrier to entry. I'd likely
specifically avoid ordering a kit if this wasn't already done.
Especially where the goal is to introduce people to retrocomputing, in
my eyes, there is no other answer.
If there are some people that want to practice self-flagellation, then
let them take their soldering irons and join opus dei.
Oh good heavens. This sort of stuff really just sounds like nothing
more than knee-jerk automatic hatred of SMT by people who did what I described in my last message, and it really does
become irritating to
those of us who know better. Right now I'm sitting here (well, taking a
break from it at the moment, actually) soldering sixteen boards with
0.5mm-pitch parts for another open-hardware project, and am having no
trouble whatsoever. I find it quite enjoyable and completely
Exactly, it's not hard.
For anything larger than 0.5mm it's pretty easy to do it with just a fine
tipped soldering iron, thin (SWG30 or so) solder and a solder wick to
clean off any bridges.
I remember the first time I did SMD rwrok, changing the LH5811 I/O chip
in an Sharp CE151 printer/plotter (for the PC1500 calculator). I was
worried abouit doing it, but when I actually did it and found every joint
was good first time with no shorts (yes I did check before applying
power), I wondered what all the fuss was about.
trouble-free, and I'm by no means the smartest,
best-coordinated, or
best-sighted person here. The equipment isn't particularly expensive
(despite popular underinformed opinion), and the skills take an
afternoon to develop.
If you were to actually TRY it, with the right tools, and the right
mindset (as in "learning a new skill" rather than trying to treat it
like it's through-hole soldering without the holes), I bet you'd love it.
This mentions another attitude I find puzzling. I indulge in my hobbies
in order to learn new skills (this is, I believe not uncommon, and
certainly not restricted to electronics, or computing, or engineering, or
related hobbies). SMD rework is another new skill. Why not gie it a go....
-tony