This is 2016, and almost every hacker dabbles with SMD parts now, unlike back in the day. This means investing in at least some specialized tools and equipment to make the job easier. One handy tool ...

Surface Mount Resistors (SMDs) are usually made as very small, rectangular-shaped metal oxide film resistors. A thick layer of metal oxide resistance is deposited as it contains a ceramic substrate ...

Modding today's hardware often means moving or removing tiny surface mount components, and using a standard soldering iron feels about as effective as using a hammer to kill a fly. If buying an ...

Surface-mounted resistors are resistors that contain numerical figures in codes similar to the ones used on axial lead-type resistors. These resistors use SMT technology to decrease the proportions of ...

How to set up fixturing according to manufacturer guidelines, establishing a capable test system. How to ensure close control of assembly processes like solder-paste ...

At some stage you will have to work with surface-mount devices (SMDs) and solder them by hand. You can wait until you are forced to learn, or you can leap into the fray with gusto and abandon. At some ...

Challenges often arise with the relatively common low-ohmic-value resistors during the design and manufacturing phases, leading to an array of misconceptions about them. TT Electronics’ Stephen Oxley ...

Vishay created precision resistors with 0.05% tolerance and a temperature coefficient of ±2.5ppm/°C. They are in the FRFS0402 Series, based on ‘Z1 Foil’ precision foil resistor elements by Vishay ...

Getting the hang of through-hole soldering is tricky for those of us tinkering at home with our irons, spools, flux, and, sometimes, braids. It's almost reassuring, then, to learn that through-hole ...