[Elecraft] SMD-based kits

[wayne burdick]

Surface-mount (SMD) components are easy to work with, *if* you have 
very steady hands, good visual acuity (aided by a magnifier), and a 
very fine-tip soldering iron (etc.). I've done a lot of SMD work 
myself, and can even read the labels on 0805 resistors  ;)  Our new 
T1-FT817 interface cable has a tiny board loaded with 0402-sized 
components inside a mini-DIN connector, and I built the first one by 
hand. So don't get me wrong -- I think SMDs can be a lot of fun.

However, supporting SMD-based kits would be an absolute nightmare. Many 
parts have cryptic labels, or none at all, notably capacitors. Keeping 
track of parts as you build -- which requires a lot of discipline -- is 
just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine for a moment that you're an 
Elecraft customer-service tech, confronted daily by kits with hundreds 
of SMDS, many of which are installed in the wrong place, not soldered 
correctly, damaged due to heating, etc. Problems like this can be very 
painful to troubleshoot because of the labeling problem. Already, Gary 
spends most of his time finding and fixing problems with soldering and 
incorrect component installation.

So, what's more likely is that we would offer small SMD-based kits that 
have BIG, BOLD, UNAVOIDABLE, UN-FINE print that says, in effect, "DON'T 
TRY THIS AT HOME....Unless you really want to." And unfortunately, this 
necessity translates to a small market for the kits.

That said, looking into my crystal ball I can see a time when home 
pick-'n'-place machines with AI-enabled vision systems become 
commonplace....

73,
Wayne
N6KR


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http://www.elecraft.com