Author Topic: Mixing SMT with through-hole  (Read 3151 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SpitruzzelloTopic starter

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 11
  • Country: au
Mixing SMT with through-hole
« on: January 08, 2017, 02:35:58 am »
I'm designing a suite of guitar effect stomp boxes and need to decide whether I design the PCB for SMT, through-hole or a combination of both.  There are a few components like POTS, switches and jacks that are better suited to through hole components since they make up the physical/mechanical build of the box. My question is should I design the PCB to be 100% through hole or would a mix of SMT and through hole components be OK considering the potential for volume manufacturing?  I'd appreciate any advice.  Thanks.
--- Sam
 

Offline tautech

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 29895
  • Country: nz
  • Taupaki Technologies Ltd. Siglent Distributor NZ.
    • Taupaki Technologies Ltd.
Re: Mixing SMT with through-hole
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2017, 03:07:25 am »
For those I DIY, I use both for primarily the reason it's far simpler to DIY a single sided PCB and when using SMD the routing paths are more difficult to find, but with the addition of a few TH resistors on selected Nets, they open the paths for traces that would be tricky to find without other side wire links or a double sided PCB.
For any volume you'd get them from a PCB house and double sided of course.

For manufacture there will be other considerations, primarily the choice between Reflow (SMD only) or Wave soldering where components need be stuck down (SMD and TH).
Adhered components can make rework more difficult when used.
Avid Rabid Hobbyist.
Some stuff seen @ Siglent HQ cannot be shared.
 
The following users thanked this post: Spitruzzello

Offline janekm

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 515
  • Country: gb
Re: Mixing SMT with through-hole
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2017, 04:22:15 am »
In medium volume (say 100-10000 pieces) mix of SMD and through-hole is fine.
In very small volume, through-hole could be cheaper as there's no need to set up stencils.

Typically you will be quoted based on the number of pads / pins, plus a fixed setup fee (which is higher for SMD, but amortises quickly in volume). The fee per through-hole pin is considerably higher than per SMD pad. In this kind of medium volume the throughhole parts will typically be soldered by hand.

I agree with you that it makes sense to stick with through-hole parts for connectors in medium-volume applications, as the SMD ones can be more hassle than they're worth. Won't be any problem for any factory / CM.
 
The following users thanked this post: Spitruzzello


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf