> > > This brings up another question I have.  How to people (hobbyist)
> > > prototype
> > > > with surface mount parts?
> >
> > It really really helps if you can make your own PCBs
>
> Why?
>
> Other people can make PC boards far better and cheaper than I
> could.  I don't see how this limits my prototyping with surface mount.

It doesn't. Neither does it limit me. I can draw, etch and drill a board in
a couple of hours. Double-sided SMT with 10 thou traces is no great
problem, but I've been doing it for 25 years and like to think I'm pretty
good at it. I'm talking strictly one-offs for my own purposes, and I do
go through a lot of them. It would send me broke if I got someone to
do them "professionally". Only when I'm satisfied with a design do I
send it off to a board house - if I need any more that is. And a visit to
the board house is more often to rummage through the offcuts bin (I
haven't bought PCB for years) or buy drill bits

> In fact, I think it enhances it because I can get PC boards made with
> features and tolerances that no hobbyist can match

I agree if you're designing to spec. But the vast majority of prototype
boards are merely to hold a parts together to test a circuit, and you
can still follow good design practices. I just happen to prefer PCBs,
and there are times when you've got odd-shaped components that
requires a soldering pattern you can't do with regular 0.1" pre-drilled
board, like perf/Vero or breadboard

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics
(like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics