On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 20:01:24 +0100, you wrote: >... > >I definitely concur with the 'make it SMT as much as possible' plan - >pin-mount stuff is a pain. Also, QFN is far preferable to QFP, as >catalogue suppliers don't always manage to ship fine-pitch stuff >without bending legs in one direction or another. Reworking a duff QFP >(or fine-pitch SOP) can take as long as assembling a whole board. With >small volumes, there's no real statistical process control, you just >do what you think will work, fix any defects, and update the big >logbook of results. > >... I keep wishing J-lead PLCCs were still available. With them you had the options of direct soldering their 0.050" lead spacing or using a sockets with a pin spacing of 0.100".

		Attila Kinali

On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 12:41:05 -0500 Oz-in-DFW <lists@ozindfw.net> wrote: > On 6/24/2016 8:23 AM, Attila Kinali wrote: > > The advantage of "professional" > > companies like Alktech over "hobbyist" companies like macrofab is, > > that you get full professional support while the price does not differ much. > > E.g. while macrofab only does 4 layer boards if you specially ask for it, > > for Alktech getting any number of layers is standard procedure. > Just to correct a misunderstanding. Macrofab, Small Batch Assembly, and > PCB:NG are all professionals, not hobbyist companies. they focus on > small runs at low cost, but they are manufacturing professionals with > commensurate results. Oops... sorry. That was a bad choice of words. What I meant was that some companies targed hobbyists while other target professional customers. These two customer groups have slightly different needs and requirements for cost and provided service. And these differences are visible when buying from those companies.... Attila Kinali -- Malek's Law: Any simple idea will be worded in the most complicated way.