Backtracking the SMT parts

[exxos]

In terms of the current assembly drama..

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =89&t=4013

In the previous thread where I mentioned producing the H4 again..

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =73&t=3918


I'm throwing it out there that the SMT IC's, such as the 373, 244, other misc logic chips be ported back to through hole types..

The problem so far of assembly, is that the MAX232 went out of stock pretty much right away and I bought it back and forth between the through-hole and SMT parts (thanks to JLC!). Plus the problem that the 373,244 Time finding alternative parts, even just before production, and in between productions as JLC went out of stock on them...

It quite possible that I may not be able to get those built on the current boards as well as the 3.3V buffers...Clearly this has developed into a downward spiral trend of stuff becoming discontinued. So frankly I think it's going to be a miracle if the current board as any ICs on it at the rate things have been progressing with out of stock parts.

Of course people can assemble the SMT chips themselves, but there are fair amount of people struggle with this as well. the idea of going with SMT was to say people soldering stuff as JLC assemble them all at the factory.

While I am looking for alternative supplies, I think the boards will end up costing double easily to continue production as they are now. As I am already doing this stuff at cost, I cannot really see that doubling the price is a good direction to move in. Not only that, eventually I want to sell completely assembled and tested boards, and if the boards are going to cost more right at the start, I honestly think selling the boards goes off the table as they will just become too expensive to produce. It goes back to myself assembling parts on boards..But I can only really pass work on to the guy I know who can only really solder through-hole parts for me.

So I am not saying this is a good idea,but I currently I cannot see any great options and to basically backtrack to the H4 style design, to all the mods and fixes, and add a new 3.3V IO board on there. JLC will just assemble the caps and resistors.

Don't get me wrong I am annoyed about this more than anyone else, but it really boils down to doubling the cost of the boards as they are now, or backtracking to through-hole parts so I just don't have to bother with the SMT ICs any more. Of course in terms of the current batch, in order to get the board out the door this year, it will just have to be done with parts missing I think.