4 ms·

Through-hole is easier than SMD with the correct tools. Specifically a vacuum desoldering tool (Metcal MFR, Pace SX or similar).

m0xte 7y ago
Until you pull a pad through on a $20k multilayer board. Been there. Give me straight, well designed and BGA-less SMD any day. Also Metcal user here.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  I think you meant 'via'?
  - m0xte 7y ago
    The via yes. That's attached to the pad on the other side which is what I'm referring to. The first "oh shit" moment is when you see the pad attached to the leg of the part.
  - magduf 7y ago
    Not really, no. It's really nit-picking, but a "via" is a (usually small) plated-through hole that is used solely for connecting traces on different layers of the board. I'm pretty sure the term isn't normally used for the plated-thru holes with pads that are used for thru-hole parts, even though the construction of the two is almost the same. The main differences are that the holes for PTH parts are usually larger, and the pads around them are larger, for better soldering. Vias don't need much of a pad around the hole because you're not putting solder in the hole, and vias are usually covered with soldermask.
    - jacquesm 7y ago
      Yes, really, yes. It isn't nitpicking when you're simply wrong. Via's are vertical interconnects between layers, they can be 'blind' vias which do not connect to either top or bottom layers or regular ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics)
      - magduf 7y ago
        If you're going to call someone wrong, then you should check to make sure you're right first. But you aren't: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through-hole_technology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through-hole_technology "Plated-through holes are no longer required with SMT boards for making the component connections, but are still used for making interconnections between the layers and in this role are more usually called vias.[2]" Even your own link says nothing about PTH, and just discusses vias for use in SMT.
        jacquesm 7y ago
        Except that the context was through hole boards. > "Through-hole is easier than SMD with the correct tools. Specifically a vacuum desoldering tool (Metcal MFR, Pace SX or similar)."
- philpem 7y ago
  I'm all over the place -- I've got an Aoyue hot-air station, a Metcal MFR soldering station and a Pace SX90 vacuum desoldering rig. :) Whatever I can get for cheap, basically. Home hobbyist :)

m0xte 7y ago

Until you pull a pad through on a $20k multilayer board. Been there. Give me straight, well designed and BGA-less SMD any day. Also Metcal user here.

jacquesm 7y ago
I think you meant 'via'?
- m0xte 7y ago
  The via yes. That's attached to the pad on the other side which is what I'm referring to. The first "oh shit" moment is when you see the pad attached to the leg of the part.
- magduf 7y ago
  Not really, no. It's really nit-picking, but a "via" is a (usually small) plated-through hole that is used solely for connecting traces on different layers of the board. I'm pretty sure the term isn't normally used for the plated-thru holes with pads that are used for thru-hole parts, even though the construction of the two is almost the same. The main differences are that the holes for PTH parts are usually larger, and the pads around them are larger, for better soldering. Vias don't need much of a pad around the hole because you're not putting solder in the hole, and vias are usually covered with soldermask.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    Yes, really, yes. It isn't nitpicking when you're simply wrong. Via's are vertical interconnects between layers, they can be 'blind' vias which do not connect to either top or bottom layers or regular ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics)
    - magduf 7y ago
      If you're going to call someone wrong, then you should check to make sure you're right first. But you aren't: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through-hole_technology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through-hole_technology "Plated-through holes are no longer required with SMT boards for making the component connections, but are still used for making interconnections between the layers and in this role are more usually called vias.[2]" Even your own link says nothing about PTH, and just discusses vias for use in SMT.
      - jacquesm 7y ago
        Except that the context was through hole boards. > "Through-hole is easier than SMD with the correct tools. Specifically a vacuum desoldering tool (Metcal MFR, Pace SX or similar)."
philpem 7y ago
I'm all over the place -- I've got an Aoyue hot-air station, a Metcal MFR soldering station and a Pace SX90 vacuum desoldering rig. :) Whatever I can get for cheap, basically. Home hobbyist :)