For free software try Eagle LT. at http://www.cadsoftusa.com/ it's free
and has a large SMT part library - easy to get started. I was able to
take a design from concept to reality in about 2 months, never having
made a PCB before. I built it by hand.  If you are not using parts with
leads (BGA) you can't build it by hand, and 0402 parts are difficult to
solder.  - Without special equipment.  There is also a recent circuit
cellar article about working with SMT - MAY 2002. =20
You do need to be very careful about the design of the pads and traces,
they can cause nasty effects when a board is made (tombstoning etc.)..
At my last job they had a whole group of engineers working on board
level problems and had very specific design rules.  A few resources are
--=20

http://www.aracnet.com/~gpatrick/

http://www.epanorama.net=20

http://smt.pennnet.com/home.cfm

http://www.pcdmag.com/

http://www.smta.org/

Also a simple little book on the subject of SMT projects is at Amazon

Smd Electronics Projects
by Homer L. Davidson

and=20

Surface Mount Technology for PC Boards
by James K. Hollomon Jr., James Hollomon

Amazon also has more books on this subject but at >$$

If you don't want to home brew your boards try.

http://www.pcbexpress.com

They did a nice job for me quick turn and about $100 for two - also
They used the eagle files directly without problem. =20

Steve Smith
Electrical Engineer
University of Akron
Departmen of Chemistry

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert E. Griffith [mailto:bob@JUNGA.COM]=20
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 6:04 PM
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [EE]: SMT Board Layout advice

I have designed a couple of successful through hole boards but now I am
attempting to design a full SMT board and need some advise.

Can anyone recommend your favorite web sites or book on the subject of
SMT
board layout/design?  Is their a definitive web source for IPC land
patterns?

I am assuming that if I use parts made for wave or reflow soldering,
that I
would not be able to build a test board by hand before having a batch
made
by a CM.  Is that true?  I am considering trying a toaster oven for
reflow
as was discussed a while back on this list.

Also, do I need to be careful about where on the SMD pad I connect the
trace?  On small caps, the trace can change the shape of the pad and I
wonder if it will effect how the part stays on during soldering.

Thanks,

--BobG

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