Barry Gershenfeld wrote:
>
> >How does anyone cut the leads on crystal oscillators? I used some wire
> >cutters and after a week the crystal failed.... I've heard before that you
> >need to do it a different way to avoid the shockwaves going up the lead and
> >cracking the crystal but how does anyone do it?? Is it better to do it
> >before soldering it in??
> >Ben
>
> Solder them in first, and the board will absorb some of the shock.  The
> way I cut the leads is to nick them with the cutters (squeeze lightly
> and then go around the wire) and then bend them back and forth until
> they break off.   Still, as Dave pointed out, I'm not convinced this
> is a big problem with crystals.  I do it because it's easy to do.


I always use hot melt glue to hold the can down,
THEN solder it, THEN cut the leads with nice sharp
cutters. Never had a failed crystal. Recently i've
switched to Murata ceramic resonators for anything
that doesn't need a perfect clock speed, these
resonators are very robust.
-Roman

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