Bigger pads is not a bad idea, and something that I've found works VERY well is to use square pads instead of round ones, IF your layout software allows. I've also had some luck with putting cellophane tape over the pad, or a piece of plexiglass with a hole just the right size, but those can be a pain. For pads on the underside of the board, you can put down a piece of scrap PCB or Plexi and drill thru both layers. The vias near the pin so you can solder bottom and then change to top is another good idea. And for heaven's sake, if you can't avoid soldering to the top of a board, make sure the trace does leave the pad UNDER an IC, as that becomes almost impossible to solder! Last item: use a piece of steel wool to burnish the copper on the board before soldering or tinning. The difference between the behavior of solder on a burnished board and and an unburnished one is night and day. I know a few guys who will actually do all the leads on their components, but I think that's a little over kill. PS- If anyone knows a place where I can buy a kit for PCB etching, please let me know! I'm looking for a "no-strings kit": lamp, tank, chemicals, everything, for as low a price as possible. I'm also wondering if anyone has had any luck with the "iron-on" toner transfer method... Mike Hord >From: Colin Constant >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list >To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU >Subject: Re: [OT]: Drilling and soldering >Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 20:25:01 -0600 > >The other thing to try is bigger pads. > >Colin > > >>From: William Chops Westfield >>Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list >>To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU >>Subject: Re: [OT]: Drilling and soldering >>Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 18:15:34 PDT >> >>I try to restict the topside pads that need soldering to a minimum on my >>amateur-made non-plated-though boards. When it's required, I try to >>pick components and pads where (separate) topside solding isn't difficult, >>such as resistor leads as opposed to IC leads, and definately not leads >>that are underneath a package. Ideally, you can add vias (containing >>bare wire that you solder easilly on both sides before adding other >>components) in places of pads that expect connectivity on both sides. >> >>On the other hand, this is something of a pain, and results in board >>designs that are somewhat "weird" and cry out for redesign should they >>ever get sent to a professional board house... >> >>BillW >> >>-- >>http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different >>ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > >_________________________________________________________________ >STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* >http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different >ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body