hi, I am busy with designing my own PCBs since a few months. For a new project I need to use the PIC18F67J60 MCU of Microchip. Problem for me, it is SMD. Never worked with it and not very keen to start with it yet.
My idea was to put the MCU in a socket but found only PLCC sockets of 68 and 84 pins… the MCU I want to use is 64 or 80 pins. Can I simply use this 86/84 PLCC socket for this MCU and simply forget the 4 pins? Or is there an another ‘better’ way to do it?
thx 
That chip is available only in a TQFP package - a PLCC socket will do you no good whatsoever.
TQFP sockets exist, but are typically used only for programming/testing purposes, not in the actual target circuit. A quick check at emulation.com shows a price over $120 for a socket - even with no SMD experience at all, it’s hard to imagine that you’d fry $120 worth of chips and PCBs before you got the hang of it.
thanks for the help… was already afraid so…
problem is that I want to use a MCU with build-in Ethernet connection, use now the ENC28J60 but need a smaller PCB layout…, the PIC18F97J60 family is the only one who has that feature (so far I know at least)
the PLCC socket is used for which type of housings?
PLCC sockets are for parts in PLCC packages (SMT parts with the leads bent around and under the package instead of sticking out like TQFP)
http://www.media.mit.edu/physics/pedago … 9/plcc.gif
[Edited to get a working picture]
I know you don’t want to hear this but you really should learn how to work with SMDs, What you will discover is that it’s just not that hard. In fact any of us feel that SMDs are EASIER to work with. No special equipment is needed beyond a decent soldering iron.
You can get generic boards to allow SMDs to be used in solderless breadboards. winboard and smartboard are several brands.
Philba:
…You can get generic boards to allow SMDs to be used in solderless breadboards. winboard and smartboard are several brands.
Do you have any link to these boards?
Where do I can find a good detailed online manual how to solder SMD parts? Can I still developing my own PCBs… or do I need to get something else? And in a ad I read something about hot air soldering… is that wise to use?
Maybe I can better follow the rest of the gang into SMD… 8)
Try the Homebrew-PCB Yahoo group.
Leon
There’s tutorials right on this site.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutori … ials_id=36
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutori … ials_id=96
The only adapter boards I know of are Schmartboard’s, but I’m sure there’s others.
+1 to Leon’s suggestion of checking out the DIY-Homebrew PCB yahoogroups list.
That’s what I do to prototype with TQFP packages:http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/tqfp- … ochip-pics CAD files for the board( Eagle and Gerber ) are also there so you can see how it’s done. I also have them for sale if anyone is interested.
Do you have any link to these boards?
No, but google does.
By the way, the name is schmartboard, I misspelled it earlier.