Building Electronics with Surface Mount Technology

James Jefferson Jarvis KB0THNAPRS World, LLCjj@aprsworld.net

www.aprsworld.com

Presentation OutlineWhat is Surface Mount Technology?Why is it used?How do I do it?What do I need?

What is Surface Mount Technology?

There are two type of components

Through hole partsUse holes through circuit board that components are soldered in to

Surface mount partsSoldered on top of circuit board

SMT PartsAll kinds of parts are available in surface mount

Integrated circuitsCapacitors, resistors, inductorsLEDsConnectors

Why is it used?SMT is smaller, faster, cheaperMost new and cool products are only available in surface mount packages

Accelerometers smaller than your fingernailComputers on a chipRadios on a chip!

How do I do it?Watch the demonstration and learn

Recommended Soldering Iron

Workable QualityRadio Shack 15 watt soldering iron

Radio Shack P/N 64-2051$9

Only one tip$1

Recommended Soldering Iron

Good QualityWeller WLC100

Jameco P/N 146596$49

ST1 1/16” conical tip$5

Recommended Soldering Iron

Excellent QualityWeller WESD51

Digi-Key P/N WESD51-ND $160

ETS tip$5

Recommended ToolsXcelite 170M side cutters

$6

Small needle nose pliers

Recommended SolderKester No Clean Solder – 28 AWG (tiny)

Digi-Key P/N KE1407-ND$18This is a half pound of 0.015” diameter solder so it will last you a lifetime

Recommended FluxKester #951 Low-Solids, No-Clean, Pen

Digi-Key P/N KE1804-ND$3.70

Rosin, Mildly Activated flux is okay but will leave a big sticky mess on your board

Liquid and aerosol flux remover can be used, but it is nasty

If water soluble flux is used it *MUST* be washed off the board when done

Recommended Desoldering Braid

Techspray Prowick Size #25’ long, 0.055” wideAbout $4

Recommended VicePanavise Jr

Digi-Key P/N 201PV-ND$24

Prototyping BoardsSurfboards!

Available from Digi-KeySpecifications at http://www.capitaladvanced.com/

Where to buy this stuffDigi-Key, Thief River Falls, Minnesota

www.digikey.com1-800-DIGIKEY

Jameco, Belmont, Californiawww.jameco.com1-800-831-4242

Radio Shackwww.radioshack.com

Spark Fun Electronicswww.sparkfun.com1-303-284-0979

Try it yourself…After the meeting we can build a simple circuit board with surface mount partsIt’s a $4 practice board … and if it works you get a free RS-232 TTL converter

It has one 16 pin chip, five capacitors, and a connector