原创 Altering the center of balance for SMD components

I just got an email from my chum Rick Curl, who poses a rather interesting question. Rick's query was as follows:

Hi Max -- just a random thought -- have you noticed that if you take a container of loose surface-mount components and shake it up, most of the components end up with the markings facing down?

Of course, this makes no difference in a production environment where the parts are all on tape and reel or in tubes, but for the unfortunate engineer who has to assemble a prototype by hand, it can be very time-consuming turning all the parts over with tweezers.

Think of the potential savings in time and frustration if manufacturers of SMD components could find a way to shift their center of balance slightly such that the components tended to end up with the markings on top. I know that I'd be willing to pay a premium for such components.

OK, end of rant... I'm going back to my hole now... Rick

Well, I don’t know about you, but I'm taking a stab in the dark and guessing that Rick is currently assembling a prototype using a container of loose surface-mount components. This is just a hunch, you understand, I'm a perceptive fellow sometimes.

It's all a matter of balance.

 

To be honest, this hasn’t been a problem for me, because I doggedly continue to use lead-through-hole (LTH) components, but Rick's suggestion certainly makes a lot of sense from the user's point of view. What do you think? Would there be a market for such components if their manufacturers could create them without any penalties in cost, size, and weight?