Best FPGA/CPLD with PLCC?
Karsten Becker
I'm currently working on a project that needs a big FPGA/CPLD. The
constraint is that it must be in an PLCC or PDIP because it will be hand
soldered.
The 1032E CPLD from lattice is the only fitting one. I couldn't find any
devices from Xilinx that met my requirements..
But what about the Altera devices? Which one is the biggest?
Any other devices I have not considered?
Karsten
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Jonathan Bromley
> I'm currently working on a project that needs a big FPGA/CPLD. The
> constraint is that it must be in an PLCC or PDIP because it will be hand
> soldered.
What's the big deal about hand soldering PQFPs?
It's easy enough if you have a reasonable quality
PCB and (very important) good quality liquid flux.
Even easier if you get hold of a syringe of solder paste.
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Karsten Becker
> "Karsten Becker" <k...@karsten-becker.de> wrote
>
>
>>I'm currently working on a project that needs a big FPGA/CPLD. The
>>constraint is that it must be in an PLCC or PDIP because it will be hand
>>soldered.
>
>
> What's the big deal about hand soldering PQFPs?
> It's easy enough if you have a reasonable quality
> PCB and (very important) good quality liquid flux.
> Even easier if you get hold of a syringe of solder paste.
of these bigger devices are more expansive.
I found out that the EPF10K10 would fit all my requirements. Except the
one, it is not supported by Quartus. It's just supported by MaxPlusII
that blames me that I'm not allowed to use VHDL with the free license....
Is there any tool that can create edif from vhdl and is freeware?
Or at best, can do a PAR for this device and is freeware?
Russell
> Jonathan Bromley wrote:
>
>> "Karsten Becker" <k...@karsten-becker.de> wrote
>>
>>
>>> I'm currently working on a project that needs a big FPGA/CPLD. The
>>> constraint is that it must be in an PLCC or PDIP because it will be hand
>>> soldered.
>>
>>
>>
>> What's the big deal about hand soldering PQFPs?
>> It's easy enough if you have a reasonable quality
>> PCB and (very important) good quality liquid flux.
>> Even easier if you get hold of a syringe of solder paste.
>
> I tried it and it looked horrobly (and didn't work of course). Also most
> of these bigger devices are more expansive.
Don't solder one pin at a time. Run a blob of solder along the pins with
a big-tip iron after adding some flux. Use google to find a stack of posts
on this method in other newsgroups. The result looks like a properly
oven-soldered job.
Theron Hicks (Terry)
give you the benefit of my experience in soldering chips down.
I originally started with the spartanXL in a PLCC84. In a later revision of
my design I went to a 100 pin flat pack. the 100 pin package was actually a
lot easier to do than the J lead part (PLCC84). Don't even consider a
socket. They are horribly unreliable for even a simple proof of concept
design. figure about a 90 percent failure rate for a socketed part in my
experience. The flat pack is much easier to solder than the PLCC84.
Currently I am using a spartan2E in a 144pin flat package. This part is a
breeze to hand solder given a little experience. Tack down one corner
correctly. Then get the opposite diagonal corner. Use solder paste very
sparingly or else use very small diameter wire. Also, the most inportant
thing is to use a VERY small tip. I use a variable temperature controlled
weller iron that is rated for 20 watts. It is the EC1002-1. Digikey has
it but the price is high from them. (about $250). You might get a better
price elsewhere. The soldering tip I use is EPH102. Set the temperature as
low as you can get away with. (600 degrees is best but it won't solder a
ground plane easily.) Get a jewelers loupe to inspect or use a
microscope. It takes practice but I can do it and I am 47 years old and
half blind. Usually I have an undergraduate student do the job for me.
One trick... If you have to remove a part... Put the board on a small flat
hot plate. Use the hot plate to pre-warm the board. Then remove the part
with hot air gingerly applied.
Again... The PLCC package is a lot trickier than it looks. If you must go
that way leave yourself really big lands outside the package. The narrow
pitch flat packs are really a lot easier than they look.
Theron Hicks