this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024
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Seriously, what sadist saw a flat PCB surface, flat pick and place machine heads, and said "lets create a round component"?

Joking aside I am genuinely curious what advantage the MELF design actually offers. I know they're a pain to get a machine to place properly, they have more solder flow issues than components with flat leads, and they seem like they would be harder to manufacture too. So why a round component? Anyone here have any insight on why they even exist?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (7 children)

Working at an OEM that designs their own boards I've often wondered the same thing. We only have one designer that used them but they were such a pain in the ass on the pick and place machines. Lots of drops

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (6 children)

If you see that designer, you should ask them. There must be a reason they use them other than being a misanthrope.

I spent 3 hours fighting with a Fuzion tonight and even with the special MELF heads it drops enough to reliably jam up other component feeders. Unfortunately our customers pick what exact parts we use so we can't just change them out for something equivalent but less hateful and I don't communicate with them so I can't ask why.

I'm starting to think MELFs are just pushed by big component to get people to buy more components (because the machines throw half of them on the ground.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Sorry for the slow response. I've seen the conversation has continued so this matters less now... But. Our guy that used them retired a few months back. And to your point, he was a misanthrope

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