SolderlessPCB: Reusing Electronic Components in PCB Prototyping via Detachable 3D-Printed Housings

Try Fusion360 packages with the suite of 3D housings: https://github.com/zyyan20h/solderles...

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The iterative prototyping process for PCBs frequently employs SMD components, which are often discarded rather than reused due to the challenges associated with desoldering, leading to unnecessary electronic
waste. We introduces SolderlessPCB, a collection of techniques for solder-free PCB prototyping, specifically designed to promote the recycling and reuse of electronic components. Central to this approach are custom 3D-printable housings that allow SMD components to be mounted onto PCBs without soldering. We detail the design of SolderlessPCB and the experiments conducted to evaluate its design parameters, electrical performance, and durability. To illustrate the potential for reusing SMD components with SolderlessPCB, we discuss two scenarios: the reuse of components from earlier design iterations and from obsolete prototypes. We
also provide examples demonstrating that SolderlessPCB can handle high-current applications and is suitable for high-speed data
transmission. We concludes by discussing the limitations of
our approach and suggesting future directions to overcome these
challenges.

Published at CHI 2024 || https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642765

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