How to insert an IC into DIP socket?

[varunme]

Is there any trick to insert an IC into DIP socket , i find it difficult to insert everytime

 

[Nick C.]

Re: IC DIP socket tricks

One way to straighten pins for insertion is to 'roll' the IC on a flat surface, bending one side at a time.

A better way to do it is to use a proper IC pin straightening tool. Once you use it you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

Tools - IC
ICS-01-R: JAMECO BENCHPRO: Test, Tools & Supplies

 

[betwixt]

Re: IC DIP socket tricks

If you are dealing with large nubers of ICs there is another neat gadget. I think the one I used was custom made but they are available off the shelf.
All it consisted of was a flat metal base sheet, maybe 10 x 20cm, a polished (to prevent the IC beng scratched) metal block about 5cm long and exactly the same width as the IC pin spacing and two roller bearings. The bearings were mounted horizontally beside the polished block and almost touching it. We had one of these gadgets for 0.3" and one for 0.6" wide ICs.
To use it, the tube of ICs was held slightly raised at one ond of the block and the IC were allowed to slide out of the tube. As they landed with one leg on each side of the block you pushed the IC along it and the roller bearings squeezed the legs inward against it. The advantage of this gadget was it could pre-form the ICs at the rate of about one per second.

Brian.

 

[Nick C.]

Re: IC DIP socket tricks

Brian,

These commercial units even bend the pins while the parts are still in the tube. Neat!

 

[betwixt]

Re: IC DIP socket tricks

Thanks Nick C.

Different implementation but the same principle and as you say, a neat trick!

On the first and last pictures, is the knob on the side to adjust the width to accommodate diffderent package widths? If so, what holds the tube central between the rollers, do the sides have a ridge for the edges of the tube to sit in?

Brian.