Message
Re: Getting a PCB professionally manufactured
2014-05-08 by <cs6061@...>
Soldering smt parts is not all that hard, it helps to have a zoom binocular microscope, a steady hand, a good soldering iron and fine solder with a (RMA) flux. I use a Metcal soldering iron and its hands down the best of the breed. A head band jewelers loop works fairly well but and old B&L stereo scope is better, you only need a few power. Too much power and the lense is too close to the work to be of any use.
I try and keep my SMT components on the larger side say 0805 or above for resistors and caps. I have done 0603's but they a lot harder to do then 0805's.
I think SMT is actually easier to do the through hole, no leads to bend or clip.
Craig