Part with no leads

[Dan]

Professor Tom

I don't know who you are but I hope you can help. I am fairly new to the design world. I just got some parts for a board I am designing that are called SMT parts. The problem is that they don't have any leads that stick thru the board. How am I supposed to attach these to the board? Have you ever seen any parts like these?

Thanks -
Dan

[randychase]

LOL


Tom, put away the red and blue pencils and black tape and answer the man!

P.S. Those new fangled parts ain't gonna work. It's just a fad. Through hole is here to stay. There will always be 1/4watt resistors on 1/2" lead spacings aned CK05 capacitors on .200" lead spacings. Everyone knows you can't get much smaller than that.

[Tom]

Dan,

90% of all parts used in PCB design layout today are SMT (Surface Mount Technology).

First of all, all parts have leads. They might not go through the board but they solder to an undrilled pad using solder paste that is stenciled on the board. Then the SMT parts are automatically assembled using a Pick & Place machine and baked in an infared oven.

I highly recommend that you visit the nearest assembly shop and watch the process. You are welcome to attend our PowerPCB User Group next week in San Diego at Plexus Assembly. They have a new 100,000 square foot facility and are providing a tour for the 90 attendees who are coming.

You can download over 2,000 SMT decals and documentation for PowerPCB from this website. You do not need to spend doxens of hours building the decals that you need.