I have noticed recently many IC Manuf, DIP package part No's are disappearing, just the SOIC etc versions offered.
The most recent I discovered is the IR21xx packages. !
I guess I will have to learn to be more adept at mounting them.
The mini-SOIC are a challenge however!

 

Have you noticed how many new ICs are not even available in SOIC, only in packages with 0.65mm or 0.5mm pin spacing?

 

Nobody makes PCBs with DIP packages anymore since they are large and require plated-through holes, and the trend is to smaller and smaller IC packages, so when the present stocks of DIP ICs are depleted, the DIP package will likely be no more.

That will obviously make it rather difficult for a hobbyist to make breadboard circuits with ICs.

 

I guess we will have to ensure we keep a couple of each for future one-off mock-ups.

 

Nobody makes PCBs with DIP packages anymore since they are large and require plated-through holes, and the trend is to smaller and smaller IC packages, so when the present stocks of DIP ICs are depleted, the DIP package will likely be no more.

That will obviously make it rather difficult for a hobbyist to make breadboard circuits with ICs.

Are there more holes on surface-mount pcbs or through-hole pcbs?
Because you can no longer take tracks between IC pins, there are fewer routing options available so more vias are required.

 

Have you noticed how many new ICs are not even available in SOIC, only in packages with 0.65mm or 0.5mm pin spacing?

I call these DNF packages when looking through datasheets for parts to use.

Too small for me to use --> DNF (Did Not Finish).

 

The mini-SOIC are a challenge however!

This is my technique for dealing with solder bridges.
First, add some flux. Then using a 3mm screwdriver soldering iron tip tilt the board, and move all surplus solder downhill to the end of a row of pins. Clean the tip. Then apply the tip to the remaining solder bridge and tilt the board so that gravity moves the spare solder onto the tip. (Technique invented when I found I had run out of solder-braid)
Alternatively, use lots of solder braid.
But I find that using solder braid and pressing too hard can delaminate tracks.

 

This is my technique for dealing with solder bridges.
First, add some flux. Then using a 3mm screwdriver soldering iron tip tilt the board, and move all surplus solder downhill to the end of a row of pins. Clean the tip. Then apply the tip to the remaining solder bridge and tilt the board so that gravity moves the spare solder onto the tip. (Technique invented when I found I had run out of solder-braid)

I did read about that method someplace, and intended to try it out on my next SOIC board item.
I guess for now, my boards will be a combination of both device types.

 

I was going to retire when my eyes could not see the resistor color code anymore. lol

 

Nobody makes PCBs with DIP packages anymore since they are large and require plated-through holes, and the trend is to smaller and smaller IC packages, so when the present stocks of DIP ICs are depleted, the DIP package will likely be no more.

That will obviously make it rather difficult for a hobbyist to make breadboard circuits with ICs.

The chip shortage put a temporary dent in that trend as people used (or added PCB capabilities) a lot of old stock DIP chips and controllers with or without board respins.

Some people were pretty creative.

Q84 controller, DIP and SMD PCB spins.
Stock: https://www.mouser.com/c/?q=PIC18F47Q84

 

I'm sure that the more popular Chips will become available pre-soldered to an "Adapter-Board",
unfortunately, that probably means that the price will triple.
.
.
.

 

Because you can no longer take tracks between IC pins, there are fewer routing options available so more vias are required.

I highly doubt those are more than all the through-holes required by a PCB populated with DIPs.

 

will become available pre-soldered to an "Adapter-Board",
unfortunately, that probably means that the price will triple.

I have to disagree with this statement – usually a "breakout board," which often include all the support components to put the IC to use, are often available significantly cheap than just the chip itself.

 

I recall the hobby as it was in the 1970s, we'd use veroboard and often we'd use IC sockets for many ICs. Of course this was a cost and reliability concern for manufacturers but for a hobbyist was no big deal and it was easy to reuse chips in some other circuit, just by pulling them out of some existing one. Also the use of an IC socket eliminated the risk of overheating the IC as is the case when one solders these into a board.

 

That will obviously make it rather difficult for a hobbyist to make breadboard circuits with ICs.

Maybe there is money waiting for whoever can come up with a new system to replace breadboard. Breadboard for SMD components, no breakout boards required. Not sure what that would look like but maybe worth thinking about.

 

Are there more holes on surface-mount pcbs or through-hole pcbs?
Because you can no longer take tracks between IC pins, there are fewer routing options available so more vias are required.

Almost certainly the answer is always that the thru-hole boards have many more holes.

Yes, you might have to add vias in places where you previously used a pin to transition between layers, but that is almost always a one-for-one swap out. But you do not have to add vias for pins that do not need to transition layers, so those are direct savings in terms of hole count.

 

For breadboarding it, I affix an IC to a SOIC to DIP adaptor.

 

Almost certainly the answer is always that the thru-hole boards have many more holes.

Yes, you might have to add vias in places where you previously used a pin to transition between layers, but that is almost always a one-for-one swap out. But you do not have to add vias for pins that do not need to transition layers, so those are direct savings in terms of hole count.

The number seems to go up as soon as a DPAK gets involved, as thermal vias appear to transfer the heat to large areas of copper on the other side.

 

There are also the SMD sticker adapters that work well on vector board prototypes.

SMD version.

 

PIC microcontrollers seem to be available in DIP packages, but the surface mount versions are cheaper.