How possible would it be to provide the surface mount SX's in a slightly larger package?
Like an SX28 in SO-28 instead of SSOP-28.

I have been messing around with surface-mount designs and the hardest part of a "do it yourself" SX-based project is the fine lines required to mount the microprossesor itself, especially for an SX48.
I know about the protoboards, but it's like trying to build a sub-compact car on a Mac-truck chassis.

Since it's obvious that the line-foreman from Parallax is about to fly out here and hit me with a bat, I will scurry back down in my basement and fry a few more components.

NO KEN, put the bat away...

The SX28 used to be made in an SO28 package. I have some if you need some of them.

Send me a Private Message.

Bean.

Gracey here.

Have you heard of our SX Proto Boards before? http://forums.parallax.com/forums/emoticons/lol.gif <= hah! Second time I used one of those crummy things. James Newton and I have something in common.

I quit playing team sports before I started, so I have no bat. I have wine bottles though.

Instead of playing Whack-a-Mole on a customer, I'll give you the corporate line. Electronegativity, Parallax is your company. Without you, there's no us. And there is a you without us, so this synergy depends on us serving you.

So what about those SX28AC/SOs? We'll look into more package styles once we get our new Parallax SX devices underway. I'm expecting the first Parallax-labelled and packaged parts next week from our new packaging supplier. So many parts are coming that my Purchasing Manager is a nervous wreck.

And when we've got through the first qualification and the engineers tell me everything is okay with our new parts, then we'll look into some new package designs. But I have to tell you that you are the first person to ask for an SX28AC/SO package. These were discontinued a long time ago due to low volume. In fact, I'd rather send Gary (our SMT internal hero) and his equipment to your nearest McDonalds or other meeting place [for free] to do your SMT work on site. This would be a cost effective decision compared to Parallax making more SX28AC/SOs, because mainly you will buy them. And no matter how fast you work, you won't be able to consume more than five a day.

Bean is my hero right now. And I'll check our inventory for you, too.

So far, here is what seems to be most popular as far as a new SX is concerned:

• SX28 (SS or DIP) based on the 4K, 48/52BD die
  
• SX18 (DIP) because John Couture bought them all for his classes
  
• SX52, in a 14x14 mil package (SMT)
  

Yours,
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

Electro,
 I have about 40 I can sell you for the same price as the SX28SS if you want them.

Bean.

And, when Bean's stash runs out, I've got 3 sticks of them I'm happy to sell. They're handy for square-pad protoboard hacks, but if I'm making a PCB, it's SS every time.
Looks like, if Parallax don''t want to start up the package again, and the volumes really are low, there's enough out here to get by...

I have a dozen or 2 as well.

HaHaHa Parallax's off-site warehousing is working well.
Bean.

"Ask and you shall receive".  :yeah:

I'm suprised and happy to find out they actually exist, and sent Bean an offer.

When my skills increase it may not be such an issue, but for now it's not just the soldering, I'm also making my own circuit boards and my life is easier if I don't have to etch 15 mil lines.

The thing that got me started on SO-28 is the SO-18 Darlington arrays I got from Mouser.
If I use an SO-28 SX then the pins will line up exactly and I can etch straight 30 mil lines between the two.

Ken,
Have you actually taken a survey of the most popular packages?  I've read suggestions in the thread where Parallax announced taking over the SX, but I haven't seen a survey.

My vote would be the SX18 at under $2.00.  I think this is a really important gap in capability and price point that has been taken away.

And I think Bean suggested an 8-pin and a 14-pin which would be very cool also.

Chris I.

Hi again, does the SO-28 version of the SX28 use the pinout from the dip version or the SSOP, or some other arrangement?

Quote:
In fact, I'd rather send Gary (our SMT internal hero) and his equipment to your nearest McDonalds or other meeting place [for free] to do your SMT work on site. This would be a cost effective decision compared to Parallax making more SX28AC/SOs, because mainly you will buy them.

[Quoting: "Ken Gracey (Parallax)"]Gracey here.

So far, here is what seems to be most popular as far as a new SX is concerned:

• SX28 (SS or DIP) based on the 4K, 48/52BD die
  
• SX18 (DIP) because John Couture bought them all for his classes
  
• SX52, in a 14x14 mil package (SMT)
  

The SX52 is not only mentioned here, but still mentioned several places on the sales site.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, and realize that sometimes events happen faster than resources are available to handle them, and priorities have to be set (poor Jim, the IT Guy).  I'm new to this stuff, starting to get really interested trying some of the products in addition to the STAMP, and trying to grasp what's going on.

Read this post: http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=7&m=95246

Basically, don't start new designs using the SX52, there is a possibility for it coming back, but not certain.

*TD-Linux is going to miss the SX52s a lot...
Time to order a lot of Proto Boards!

Why is the die too big to fit in the case, when the SX48 is almost the same and is in a much smaller package?

Must be the SX48 uses 130nm process, while the SX52 uses a larger (older) process.

The SX52 may come back (we're expecting a final order of 30K units in January), but it would be in a different package size (maybe 14 x 14). Technically, a new package size is an "End of Life" for the current package size (10x10).

But before that happens, there are several other SX changes abreast at Parallax:

- new SX datasheets for Parallax parts to be published (December)
- Parallax SX parts to be qualified and tested prior to sale (December)
- RoHS-compliant parts to be added to inventory (December)
- New SX Blitz and new SX Key redesigns to be sent to fabrication (December/January)
- SX28AC/SS Proto Board to be sent to fabrication (December)
- SX chip and tool prices to be adjusted based on new Parallax costs (December/January)
That's a look inside Parallax. Many of these activities are already three weeks late. As for choosing more part packages, we'll seek our customers input before making any decisions. I'd like to know what Chris thinks if the SX28 were under $2 - would that meet your needs or do you really want an 18-pin part? As you can imagine, there's a fair amount of research we would need to do even after our customers decide for us. Honestly, we've got our work cut out for us right now without considering new packages. I can't envision considering a new package prior to February.  
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

Pardon me.  More food for thought.
These 'form factor' changes are really a challenge. First one thing, then another.
The package change implies that the SX-52 Proto Board will have to become a separate design [different chip size requires a differnet board] and may never come to be.

How many current design SX-52 Proto Boards on hand until they no longer exist?  
Should we stock up?

If the SX-28 is under $2, I personally could afford to ignore the extra pins and be very very happy.

But I am having trouble buying the narrow 28-DIP sockets.
Seems like I will have to solder them directly at some point in time.

Wow!  What a great response, Ken.

I could learn to live with the extra pins.  Would the pricing be the same for SMT chips?  Size matters, ya know.

Chris I.

Personally, Id like to see the price of the SX20-SSOP drop to below that for the SX28-SSOP to be more inline with the reduction of pins and package size.

[Quoting: "Electronegativity"]Hi again, does the SO-28 version of the SX28 use the pinout from the dip version or the SSOP, or some other arrangement?

Thanks,
-Alexander

Lots of other discussion going on, but thanks to all who helped clarify the status of the SX 52  (gone for now, but maybe not forever).  Sorry for having a temporary case of Cranial Anal Inversion.

Paul,
You have requested that the SX20AC/SS drop below the price of the SX28AC/SS. It will, as soon as we resolve our new costs. However, in the meantime I've been able to locate 721 SX2AC75/SS microcontrollers in our inventory, which will soon be posted to this location on our web site (within 24-48 hours):

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=SX20AC75/SS
These are the same as the SX20AC/SS, except they were tested at 75 MHz. These will be $1.95, any quantity while supplies last only.
Ubicom discontinued the 75s quite some time ago, but we're in the middle of some housecleaning and we would like to move these out of our inventory as we further prepare for our transition.

If somebody wants to buy all of them (got a project that uses the SX20AC/SS?) and would like to have a better price, please see me.

Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

Thanks Ken, I'll be sure to pick up a rail or two.