> What I've seen is leads cut to maybe 1/4" +/- and trimmed afterwards
> with a special horizontal carbide slitting saw. This has the
> potential to fracture the joints, particularly on a cheap single
> sided board. I'm afraid this process is not going to be NASA
> qualified any time soon.. but it might be good enough if your board
> is low density and quality is not a big concern (but cost is).

Quality is of no concern at all as long as the product works perfectly
for 10+ years of heavy use with no field failures whatsoever as a
result of the method used :-)

Hand trimming of leads with side cutters or equivalent is stated as
the method used.
..
I assume that your low-quality comment relates to the slitting saw
trimming method, and not to pot soldering per se.
Pot soldering seems to have the potential of very good results BUT
depends on the human factor.
Damon Runyon, probably through the mouth of Bookie Bob (no relative to
Bob's here present, I'll be bound), noted that you should never lay
odds of more than ?2:1? on anything that depended on people. (Oxford -
Cambridge boat race featured as I recall).


          Russell
--=20
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