[Elecraft] Parts Placement "Bingo"

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I've always used the "one at a time" approach. Install and solder the =
leads
of each part, one at a time.=20

I don't like soldering around a bunch of leads sticking up out of the =
board,
and I have been amazed at how components move around the board if I've =
been
"stuffing" it for a while. So I:

1 - Read the instruction and find where the part goes on the board.

2 - Pick up the part and check the value of the part against what the
instruction gives.

3 - Place the part in the board.=20

4 - Recheck the i-d or value of the part against the instructions one =
more
time (sometimes the value seems to change during step 3).

5 - Recheck the POSITION of the part to be sure it is in the right holes
(sometimes the part seems to hop to a different set of holes while doing
step 4).=20

6 - Solder one lead in place.

7 - Make sure the part is properly positioned against the board.

8 - Solder the rest of the leads.

9 - Clip each lead (except on those parts such as the relays where they =
are
NOT clipped) and inspect the solder joint carefully.

10 - Check off that step and go on to the next one..

That sounds slower than putting parts in "in bunches" but I think it's
faster. By avoiding the need to "correct" any mis-placed parts after =
they
are soldered, it saves a LOT of rework time. I hate to de-solder a part =
that
I want to use again. My usual approach is to clip the leads so I can do =
the
minimum of heating and messing with the board, and when building a kit =
that
means finding replacements for perfectly good but incorrectly installed
parts. Not fun.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289


-----Original Message-----
... I install a series of resistors or capacitors. Then solder all of =
the
leads. At this point a lot of people will hold the board over the trash =
can
and clip the leads. This is how missed solder joints happen. I clip the
leads one at a time looking at each one as I clip it to make sure they =
are
soldered. If I find one I missed then I continue clipping the rest and =
go
back and correct the un-soldered joints. The action of clipping each =
lead
forces you to look at each joint so the missed ones are more visible.

Don Brown
KD5NDB