16 Feb
2010
16 Feb
'10
9:35 p.m.
On 2/16/2010 1:43 PM, Tony Duell wrote:
I am missing something here. The purpose of a microcontroller is to
control something. You have to build an interface between the
microcontroller and whatever it is goign to control. And like it or not,
building that interface is going to involve some soldering.
I think that last part is the part you're missing. Many people will do
anything to not solder, so they will use accessories with pigtails,
wirenuts and spade connectors, or crimp connectors or IDC connectors
with ribbon cable split out to individual wires, with wirenuts to other
wires, etc. I am sure I'm missing some of the non-solder-based
connection methods, but you get the idea.
Now, if you carp about that being overly complex, prone to error, and
bad signal quality, you'll find no argument here. But, I've seen lots
of projects along those lines.
SparkFun and similar venues make boards that bring lines out to .1"
double row headers, which means these "no-solderers" tank up on ribbon
cable and IDC female connectors to make it all fit.
Now, I won't knock SparkFun. It's a nice market, and if you're
prototyping something, having it all soldered down to a PCB with a .1"
double row header makes it easy to move onto the rest of the project.
Later, when you've got it running, a good PCB design can be the next step.
I think SparkFun intends it this way (use us for proof of concept, one
offs, and prototypes), and their prices reflect it (nice margins for
essentially mounting an IC on a PCB). No doubt SparkFun has no qualms
with people paying a premium to be allergic to solder for 100 units of
something. As a business owner, I could go for that.
Jim