DIY SMD Resistor Capacitor Kit
- Post by: Admin
- On: Oct 6/12
- With 5 Comments
DIY SMD Resistor Capacitor Kit
If you’re new to electronics, I highly recommend starting out with through hold components. They are much easier to work with – much easier to breadboard. But, once you’re comfortable with through hole stuff, eventually you’ll be forced to get into SMD(surface mount devices) – either because you need a compact design, or the IC your working with only comes in a SMD package.
First thing you should get when making the transition to the SMD world is a SMD resistor and capacitor kit. You can buy them at a lot of places online. Ebay has a good selection of them. Some come in a box that opens up to little tiny compartments – but they can be really expensive. Other seller sell them in little baggies or cut tape for next to nothing, but then how are you going to store them? One solution is a binder. Adafruit sells a “SMT 0805 Resistor and Capacitor Book” that’s worth looking into. But I wanted something more modular. Something that I could build myself, and something that I could add to as time goes by, and my needs change – I didn’t want to be locked into only pre-slected values that I didn’t choose. And…I wanted something that would hold tens-of-thousands of parts.
First I picked up some of these tiny little storage boxes. You can get them on ebay (although I hear the quality isn’t as good) – or (again) Adafruit will come to the rescue! https://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=adasearch&q=smd
If the pictures don’t show it – they are interlocking – so you can arrange them in any configuration you want. And they can be reconfigured on a whim. Oh…one of the things I really, really love about them – they have a spring loaded, leaver actuated lid that you can (with one hand) – click the unlock tap – and it opens. That means that you can have a PCB with loaded up with solder pasted, and with one hand steady the board, refer to your PCB layout, unsnap a lid, pic up a part (with tweezers), close the lid – place the part – and move on. All in one easy motion. I can’t think of a better solution to hand placing SMD parts!
It’s also worthy to note that Adafruit sells a antistatic version – could be useful for static sensitive parts – but I haven’t had any issues with chips – including attinys, atmegs 328s, 555′s and an assortment of opamps.
But here’s a handy tip I’ll try to cover in another blog…..rub the inside of the compartment with a household dryer sheet anti static cloth. You know – the same stuff you dry your clothes with. It seems to work a treat! Not sure for how long – but as I said, I’ve been storing smd chips in these for years, with no ill effects at all.
Next – hop onto ebay and pick up the resistors and capacitors. This kit was $20 shipped for 5000 resistors and 2000 caps. Not bad!
They came in little baggies like this – It’s nice – but no way handy.
Next – fire up your favorite vector image editor (I use illustrator -but there is an opensource software called inkscape that is just as good for this type of thing.
Print the sheet out. You can edit the original document if you’re kit was different then mine, or you want to create your own kit.
The font used is here - you may need to install it before opening the document:
I used AVERY 48363 labels. I highly recommend covering the labels with clear packing tape before cutting them out and applying them to the boxes to prevent damage to the labels.
And here are the results:
RESISTORS:
|
0 ohm |
CAPACTOR2.2pF NPO 3.3pF NPO 4.7pF NPO 6.8pF NPO 8pF NPO 10pF NPO 12pF NPO 15pF NPO 22pF NPO 33pF NPO 47pF NPO 68pF NPO 100pF NPO 150pF X7R 200pF X7R 220pF X7R 330pF X7R 470pF X7R 680pF X7R 1nF X7R 2.2nF X7R 3.3nF X7R 4.7nF X7R 6.8nF X7R 10nF X7R 15nF X7R 22nF X7R 33nF X7R 47nF X7R 68nF X7R |
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY-Anti-static-SMD-SMT-Electronic-Component-Mini-storage-box-Black-50-pcs-per-lot/444665718.html
1/3 price + free shipping. I dont know how you guys but I think its the same thing just with manufacturer price. I will try buy from there…
Hi, I always like “started kit tips”. It is always unlock doors for starters. But, I will be honest. I only post this comment to say that the comment authentication is fantastic! The most creative ever! I will flood the blog, ok? ok??? No, just kidding…
GCDS, why do you say 1/3 price? The linked adafruit boxes are slightly cheaper ($0.59/piece) than the aliexpress ones ($0.63/piece)!
You can get about 1/3rd off the price by shopping at Ebay. I ordered them a few weeks ago, got them last week, and half were broken. Still negotiating for a refund/resend/whatever.
@Roger Wolff
The Aliexpress link that GCDS pointed to was for the Anti-Static version of the boxes. The Adafruit unit price is $1.5 each. The Aliexpress price for a similar item is $0.63. Here’s another one that’s even cheaper at $0.38 each.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY-SMD-SMT-Electronic-Component-Mini-Storage-box-50-Pcs-Per-Lot-HOT-Sale-ESD-IC/601758701.html
I’m not making any representation of quality, I’m just pointing out the price comparison.
I’ve been told that the quality varies quite a bit depending on where you buy it from. Adafuit is one of my favorite vendors (and I happen to work for them – as I disclose on my “about me” page
)
Also, I didn’t want to point to some store where you’d have to wait for shipping from china, or wind up with an inferior version of them. That’s all. I’m sure if I searched I could find them even cheaper than $0.38 each. But, that’s not the point of the post.
I was simply sharing how I’m storing my SMD components, and sharing my template for the labels if you would like to make your own.