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Christmas All Year Long — Parallax Forums

Christmas All Year Long

John AbshierJohn Abshier Posts: 1,116
edited 2009-04-14 19:03 in General Discussion
Remember, as a child, the anticipation leading up to Christmas.· Parallax gives us Christmas all year long.· Well, at least the anticipation.· New products seen in various locals and waiting to go on sale.· I for one am waiting for the mid-sized robot, linear array daughterboard, Propscope, laser rangefinder, and, the number one toy, the Prop II.

John Abshier

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-04-13 22:51
    John,

    I can address the linear array daughterboard. My assembler accidently soldered 900 of them using leaded solder (!) and had to start over with fresh PCBs and fresh SMT parts. So things got a little delayed. I hope to see assembled boards in another couple weeks. Then they have to be tested and packaged.

    This seems like the project without end sometimes. Thanks for your patience!

    -Phil
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2009-04-13 23:30
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    John,

    I can address the linear array daughterboard. My assembler accidently soldered 900 of them using leaded solder (!) and had to start over with fresh PCBs and fresh SMT parts. So things got a little delayed. I hope to see assembled boards in another couple weeks. Then they have to be tested and packaged.

    This seems like the project without end sometimes. Thanks for your patience!

    -Phil

    Ouch, that hurts. Whooops!

    I would hate to be required to warranty that.

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer

    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-04-14 01:35
    Fortunately, they didn't get to the thru-hole stuff before discovering the error. That would've been really expensive for them. Hopefully, the first batch has been shredded by now, but I had the board fab alter the silkscreen, just in case, so the two batches don't get mixed up.

    -Phil
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2009-04-14 02:35
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    Fortunately, they didn't get to the thru-hole stuff before discovering the error. That would've been really expensive for them. Hopefully, the first batch has been shredded by now, but I had the board fab alter the silkscreen, just in case, so the two batches don't get mixed up.

    -Phil

    I'm sure they are not happy with the mix up.

    One reason we only do RoHS, unless someone really gives a good reason as to why not.

    Maybe one day we will start through hole parts. We have discussed the possibility, just need more work before we start spending more money.

    James L

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    James L
    Partner/Designer

    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-04-14 02:42
    Since I'm a new customer for them, I'm sure the embarrassment was much worse than the financial hit. But, assuming the boards turn out okay after all this, I won't count it against them — unless it happens a second time.

    -Phil
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2009-04-14 02:56
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    Since I'm a new customer for them, I'm sure the embarrassment was much worse than the financial hit. But, assuming the boards turn out okay after all this, I won't count it against them — unless it happens a second time.

    -Phil

    That is worse. I could probably have handled a mix up with a previous customer, but making a big mistake like that with a new customer would be devastating.

    But I have to admit, mistakes do happen. We have made them as well, just not that big.

    James L

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    James L
    Partner/Designer

    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services
  • mctriviamctrivia Posts: 3,772
    edited 2009-04-14 03:08
    the only problem with lead free solder other then temp is it grows whiskers and easier to get cold joints

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    Need to make your prop design easier or secure? Get a PropMod has crystal, eeprom, and programing header in a 40 pin dip 0.7" pitch module with uSD reader, and RTC options.
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2009-04-14 05:01
    mctrivia said...
    the only problem with lead free solder other then temp is it grows whiskers and easier to get cold joints

    I do agree there have been studies done on lead-free solder. There is no doubt that items will not last as long, but with technology changing as fast as it does, it is not much of a problem. Most items are not around long enough for the problem to show. Also most of the problems are shown to appear faster if the assembly temperature was incorrect.

    But remember, by 2014, there will only be lead-free, so you should get used to it. That is only 5 years away.

    There is no doubt that leaded solder works better, but it is dangerous to work with, can be hazardous to dispose of.

    I just try to deal with the fact. Not much I can do to change it.

    James L

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    James L
    Partner/Designer

    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2009-04-14 19:03
    Who did you use for your assembly services? I hope this question isn't too personal.

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    Toys are microcontroled.
    Robots are microcontroled.
    I am microcontrolled.
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