Tim Forcer wrote:
>
> On April 30 Don McKenzie <don@DONTRONICS.COM> wrote a response to my
> original (and erroneous) post which suggested "Universal" ZIF sockets:

> >..cut..
> >We know about the Aries Universal, trouble is they don't fit a .3"
> >target board hole as the base is at .6" spacings.
> >..cut..

> Try again.  This time I think I've got it right.  Objective is to handle
> 0.6" DIP ICs where the PCB has a footprint for 0.3", ideally without losing
> ability to handle 0.3" DIP.
> 1.  Buy an Aries "Universal" ZIF.
> 2.  Turn it upside down, remove the clips securing the pegs which hold the
> socket body together.  (The plastic moulding has hex recesses, so some old
> sockets may have proper screw/nut assemblies, but mine uses the "Spire"
> fastening type.)
> 3.  Turn it right way up, and separate the top from the bottom.  (Oh dear,
> it came apart before I read this bit, so pause to scrabble around on the
> floor for the 145 bits and pieces that fell out.)
> 4.  Swap the pins from left "column" to right - the base is already pierced
> to allow this to be done.  (Presumably, at some time Aries intended
> marketing 0.3" mounting Universals, and some design engineer sensibly
> future-proofed the moulding.)
> 5.  Reassemble.
> 6.  You now have a ZIF socket with 0.3" pins which will accept 0.3" and 0.6"
> ICs.
> 7.  Curse and swear because the PCB has components that wouldn't obstruct a
> 0.3" socket but do prevent you fitting your 0.6" unit.  The solution to this
> is left as an exercise for the reader (as they say in all the worst text
 books).
> OK, Don?

Good one Tim. You must have looked at it for a while, and yes all the
Aries seem to be moulded to this dual standard.

My 28 pin and 40 pin stocks have the "Spire" fasteners.
My 48 pin have a screw head into what looks like a plastic coated nut,
so I would suggest it could be done very easily.

Now I just wonder how easy it was to get the "spire" off the shaft and
then replace it.
I understand the problem with the 145 bits, but you would only normally
do this once.

The solution to the geography problem is to build up the height of the
socket with skinny machine pin sockets. You need 1,?, 2?, 3?, doesn't
matter, just put the Aries above the rest of the components. Works every
time.

Now I guess we have a choice on how to do this.
1) Get a .3" to .6" adapter (digikey, Farnell)
2) Reconstruct your own Aries socket.

Don McKenzie  don@dontronics.com   http://www.dontronics.com

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