Roger,

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for making socketed parts work reliably.
The advantages of prototype often become the problem in production for the
reasons you have just stated.

As part of our DFM process, we try to eliminate sockets after prototype
where ever
possible.  We try to use ISP parts so we can solder them down and still
reprogram
them.  It usually takes a little real estate arguing, but our Engineering
group is pretty
understanding about the benefits.

Good Luck........DT



At 10:52 AM 3/12/00 -0600, you wrote:
>I am having trouble with our equipment.  Field service techs think there
>are periodic glitches which lockup our equipment, due to the contact
>quality (tarnish, dirt?) between ic's and there sockets.  They are able to
>reset the system by pulling out the ic and reseating.  The problem then
>can't be duplicated.  We have thousands of these in the field - so
>soldering would be very very expensive.
>
>To date, the field techs have also been burnish the ic leads once they are
>removed.  Can this damage surface of the contact?   Is there anything else
>we can be doing?  We have tried some "contact enhancers" but have had
>problems with it attacking the plastic ic socket so we are reluctant to go
>in this direction.  Any ideas?
>
>Thanks in advance
>
>Roger Hill
>972-245-2243  x203