SMD Surface Mount Devices

For a great little Surface Mount practice kit, see Roman Black's Shift-1 wire serial LCD driver and project board

Surface mount devices have many advantages and a few disadvantages. More and more components are available only in SMT packages, so learning to work with them is becomming critical.

Pros Cons

Takes up much less space
Less expensive
Wider range of parts avilable
Can be soldered in batches by reflow or wave techniques
Automated placement very possible No leads to hold component in place while soldering
Small size makes hand soldering difficult wtihout a brace or very steady hand
Bridged solder traces more likely and difficult to see.
Easy to loose if dropped

Also:

"Manhattan" style construction

Pros	Cons
Takes up much less space Less expensive Wider range of parts avilable Can be soldered in batches by reflow or wave techniques Automated placement very possible	No leads to hold component in place while soldering Small size makes hand soldering difficult wtihout a brace or very steady hand Bridged solder traces more likely and difficult to see. Easy to loose if dropped