[Elecraft] Re: IC pins

[Tom Hammond]

Pete:

>Hello everyone!  I'm just toddling along with my build.  The major problem 
>so far has been fixing the bail to the bottom panel!  What a beast!

It's probably too late now, but the easy way to install the bail is to 
(temporarily) use longer screws to affix the bail and then to replace them, 
one at a time, with the shorter screws, once the bail has been secured.

>Anyway, it occurs to me (and has often occurred to me) why do we have to 
>reform the pins on ICs?  How come they aren't manufactured the "right" 
>shape?  I go into ESD-panic mode every time I have to re-form them and 
>some have been a complete pain to match up to their socket.

I wish I could respond as to why they must be manufactured with the pins 
'sprung out'... seems they could just as easily be bent properly from the 
factory. But I'll bet some one WILL be able to offer a logical reason.

>Anybody got a fool-proof, first-time technique for this?

Follow the instructions in the manual. Grasp the IC by its ends, press one 
side down onto the desktop (I often place it against a metal ruler, for 
added ESD protection, though I've NEVER damaged an IC as a result of ESD) 
and roll the IC inward a bit, to reform the leads.

They also make pin straighteners, but they're not all that much better than 
just doing it by hand.

>(Having spent six months studying the manual before starting has distinct 
>advantages by the way....)

Agreed.

Cheers,

Tom Hammond   N0SS