[Elecraft] SMD-based kits

[JS]

Hi OM,

Shall we back to basic?  One of the advantages of kits from Elecraft is 
'without' SMD stuff for the 'normal' skill builders.  I consider myself is a 
'normal' skill builders though I can handle SMD.  Without SMD, most of 
elecraft kits can be handled by simple and easily avaliable tools.

Falling SMD stuff on the floor is always a nightmare.  I have to ask my two 
kids to look for me because they have better eye sight.  It will be up to 
Elecraft to decide whether there are SMD based kits.  However, non-SMD kits 
should always be provided as an alternative from marketing / maintenance 
point of views.

It is my 2 cents opinion.

72/73

Johnny Siu
builder of s/n 1146, 3837, 4165, 4255, 4597

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sandy" <ebjr at i-55.com>
To: "John A. Ross[RSDTV]" <john_kx at rsdtv.com>; "'wayne burdick'" 
<n6kr at elecraft.com>; "'Elecraft Reflector'" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits


> I'll leave the "SMD stuff" to you younger guys with better eyesight than 
> mine!
>
> Having been an 'in the field' electronics tech (and part time engineer!)
> for YEARS, in the avionics and marine electronics field, I have dropped my 
> share of
> parts
> on the floor!  I can agree with Wayne on these teensy pieces being 
> UNMARKED
> (curse you bastards in the component fabrication business!), or marked 
> with some
> silly
> code or "house number", I don't intend looking for the inevidible dropped 
> part!
> I have gotten more "fumbly" with age and have trouble keeping up with 
> small parts
> and hardware now.
> Have had some fun building the K1 and an extra board for it.  "IDing" 
> those pieces
> CAN
> be confusing even with the "micro printing" on them.  Unmarked SMD's would 
> be out of
> the
> question!  I can imagine it would be a nightmare for Wayne's techs trying 
> to sort a
> returned
> kit out with misplaced parts!
> I'll take my "SMD's" mounted already..thank you!
> 73,
>
> Sandy W5TVW
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John A. Ross[RSDTV]" <john_kx at rsdtv.com>
> To: "'wayne burdick'" <n6kr at elecraft.com>; "'Elecraft Reflector'"
> <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 5:39 PM
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits
>
>
> | > -----Original Message-----
> | > From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> | > [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of wayne burdick
> | > Sent: 19 April 2005 22:21
> | > To: Elecraft Reflector
> | > Subject: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits
> | >
> | > snip <
> |
> | > 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.
> |
> | Wayne
> |
> | You are right, misplaced, unmarked parts error tracing without a proper 
> BON
> | tester and jig would be a serious pain.
> |
> | But you could supply the kit with MLCC already fitted. Soldered or held 
> by
> | glue dots for the customer to solder to avoid this very issue.
> |
> | There is not that many other parts that would be unmarked if minimum 
> size
> | was kept to 0805, could even stay with 1206 as these are quite close to 
> the
> | pitch of R's used already.
> |
> | Would be good for the option kits, possibly front panel & controller 
> board
> | at least as the available space is at a premium.
> |
> | > 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....
> |
> | With the amount of reasonably cheap premade XY tables/linear guides and 
> PC
> | axis controllers around (some in kit form!) all that's needed is some 
> will
> | power, a Z axis solution and some double sided sticky tape to hold down 
> the
> | SMT parts for picking!
> |
> | Still leaves the best xI around, the human eye & brain to do the 
> inspection
> | job though.........
> |
> | Of course with the state of electronics manufacturing today, if your 
> garage
> | is big enough, I have seen small footprint SMT placers go for next to
> | nothing at auction.
> |
> | John
> |
> | (Serious lover of all things SMT... :-)   )
> |
> |
> | >
> | > 73,
> | > Wayne
> | > N6KR
> | >
> |