Breadboarding SMD's

[FreeThinker]

Dave raised a very significant point in one of the threads about the power supply project Just how DO you develop a circuit using SMD devices? You cannot breadboard them so that leaves simulation or building a pcb. How do you develop a circuit idea? Building a pcb is not great for a one off and simulation can be tricky and not 100% realistic so which method do you choose and why?

[MarkS]

You can breadboard SMDs. In fact, they make SMD breadboards (protoboards). I've even seen people solder SMD resistors and caps between the pads of standard through hole breadboards.

[HLA-27b]

Manhattan style, dead bug style, and my favorite point to point

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/general-chat/point-to-point-wiring-another-marvellous-prototyping-technique

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects-designs-and-technical-stuff/has-anyone-seen-this-guy%27s-pcb-enclosures-blew-my-mind

[robrenz]

Dave has showed the dead bug style ( glue chip down on its back and solder individulal wires to each pad) in one of his videos. Also you can get semi universal adapters that have the smd footprint that you solder your smd chip to that are connected to .1 spaced pins that you plug into your standard breadvboard.

Sorry for some duplication HAL-42b  I ignored the additional post warning when I posted this.

[Bored@Work]

I have this http://www.elecfreaks.com/store/flower-22-protoboardmega-shield-p-378.html on my list of things I want to check out when time permits. A prototype board for SMDs with a very specific pad layout.

Unfortunately they made it into an Arduino "shield", a rather useless form factor, but it should be OK to just check if this new prototype PCB layout works.

[FreeThinker]

You can breadboard SMDs. In fact, they make SMD breadboards (protoboards). I've even seen people solder SMD resistors and caps between the pads of standard through hole breadboards.

Hmm wouldn't that ruin your breadboard? seems an bit of a kackhanded way to me, but I cannot think of an alternative (yet)

Manhattan style, dead bug style etc.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/general-chat/point-to-point-wiring-another-marvellous-prototyping-technique

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects-designs-and-technical-stuff/has-anyone-seen-this-guy%27s-pcb-enclosures-blew-my-mind

 
This covers ic's etc but what about discretes (Caps resistors etc) ? again very messy and time consuming.
Is the only way simulation?

[robrenz]

http://www.proto-advantage.com/store/index.php?cPath=2200

large selection of all types of adapters

[FreeThinker]

I have this http://www.elecfreaks.com/store/flower-22-protoboardmega-shield-p-378.html on my list of things I want to check out when time permits. A prototype board for SMDs with a very specific pad layout.

Unfortunately they made it into an Arduino "shield", a rather useless form factor, but it should be OK to just check if this new prototype PCB layout works.

B.A.W. Thank you seems to have legs (no pun intended) could even be the final pcb at push for a one off. In the back of my mind I'm remembering a cheap protoboard made (I think) by one of the forum members but I've failed to find it  . Can't remember any details but it's driving me nuts. Thanks again BAW

[gregariz]

If you go into fry's they have a range of smd protopcb's with a 0.1" pitch SIL strip on them that they call SURFboards

http://capitaladvanced.com/products.htm
http://www.frys.com/search?search_type=regular&sqxts=1&query_string=surface+mount+board&cat=0
http://www.frys.com/product/1746547?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

These little boards allow you to solder your smd's to and then push them into the breadboard.

Edit... or you could just use Bob peases technique
http://electronicdesign.com/article/analog-and-mixed-signal/What-s-All-This-Floobydust-Stuff-Anyhow-Part-15-.aspx

[sonicj]

i blew up 2 caps last night trying to solder smd on regular protoboard before i finally gave up. 

dipmicro has some very nice & affordable smd prototyping paraphernalia for those in the US and Canada.
-sj

[Teknotronix]

http://www.proto-advantage.com/store/index.php?cPath=2200

large selection of all types of adapters

I've used proto advantage as well. Great products.

[IanB]

i blew up 2 caps last night trying to solder smd on regular protoboard before i finally gave up. 

Don't say that without giving at least some idea of the tools and technique you used! 

What soldering iron? What solder? Did you pre-tin the pad? Did you flux the pad? Did you touch the iron for no more than a second or two?

Any clumsy numkin can destroy SMD components by overheating them. It takes skill to do it right 

See examples: http://www.hakko.com/english/tip_selection/work_chip_parts.html

[sonicj]

Don't say that without giving at least some idea of the tools and technique you used! 

What soldering iron? What solder? Did you pre-tin the pad? Did you flux the pad? Did you touch the iron for no more than a second or two?

Any clumsy numkin can destroy SMD components by overheating them. It takes skill to do it right 

See examples: http://www.hakko.com/english/tip_selection/work_chip_parts.html

Well... First, I harvested the parts out of a old laptop using Weller WESD-51 & WTCPT stations chop-stick style.

After removing residual solder with a wick, I tested the parts with DVM.

Soldered the parts into a space clearly not intended for SMD component placement with big puddles of solder and lots & lots of heat. 

Not sure what went wrong...
-sj

[JuKu]

Veroboard. Discretes are easy, 0805 fits nicely between pads. Larger discretes can be mounted tombstone style; solder one end of the part and leave the other end pointing up, solder wire to the top. Also, there are SMD protoboards, very handy (Such as the red ones here http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/prototyping-protoboard-c-175_188.html).

But you need to have right tools and right technique: small tip iron with good control, good flux, thin solder, good vision or a microscope etc.

I much prefer SMD even for prototyping: it is much faster and efficient when I'm able to work on one side of the board only. Besides, a SMD resistor end solders in half a second, a wired resitor tahes about two.

[Psi]

Here's what i do if i want to put a SOIC into vero or breadboard.



I get a DIP IC socket and solder 1cm of 1--0.5mm single strand wire into the top of each DIP socket hole.
(Normally it's the cutoff leg of whatever resistor/capacitor i have too many of)
I then bend the wires to align with pins on the soic and solder them to it.

[FreeThinker]

Here's what i do if i want to put a SOIC into vero or breadboard.



I get a DIP IC socket and solder 1cm of 1--0.5mm single strand wire into the top of each DIP socket hole.
(Normally it's the cutoff leg of whatever resistor/capacitor i have too many of)
I then bend the wires to align with pins on the soic and solder them to it.

Ok now you're starting to scare me 

[aluck]

BTW, these breadboards should be easily etched at home. One only needs a .pdf or Eagle PCB...