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