Are there general purpose adapters/sockets for attaching smaller microcontrollers to larger sockets with appropriately sized pins for putting in breadboards/stripboards?
If you are meaning something like attaching a "quad-flat pack" (QFP) or similar surface-mount IC to a breadboard (or stripboard)...
...for instance, if you wanted to breadboard the SMT ATMega328 (or more generally, the ATMega2560 - which doesn't come in a DIP package).
If that is what you are wanting to do - then for -some parts-, you can find adapters - they will generally only be for those kinds of ICs which were quad-packs, but meant to be socketed. You might also be able to find adapters which use some kind of clamping jig/socket (though I have never seen them; I can imagine how such a thing could be constructed - so maybe they exist).
In any case, something like the above is going to cost many $$$ - I know that for some of the socketed adapters I have seen (ie - the first case I mentioned) - $50.00 to $100.00 USD was not an uncommon price. I would imagine that for something like I described in the second case (which may or may not even exist!) - it would cost even more.
What does exist - and is fairly cheap - are SMT adapter boards; a common brand for instance are these:
There are also lower-cost (read: not as easy to use) versions that you can find on Ebay out of China.
In either case (though SchmartBoards are designed to make it somewhat easier) you will need to have SMT soldering skills to assemble the ICs to the boards.
Thank you.
cr0sh:
You might also be able to find adapters which use some kind of clamping jig/socket (though I have never seen them; I can imagine how such a thing could be constructed - so maybe they exist).
Yes, this is what I was thinking about as well. I don't know why they are/would be expensive if they were mass produced.
They exist, search eBay for "(package name) socket"
www.proto-advantage.com has many adapters, and will assemble parts for you too.
jantran:
Thank you.Yes, this is what I was thinking about as well. I don't know why they are/would be expensive if they were mass produced.
Mainly because they are typically sold to engineers for R&D purposes, who work at companies with large-ish budgets.
They aren't intended to be sold to hobbyists for a low price.
They are intended to be sold to organizations for the highest possible price as a niche design and development offering - and not for a penny less.
Furthermore - if they suddenly started charging less, those same companies purchasing them might see them as inferior due to a lower price (this is a well known psychological thing that applies across products and individuals/populations).
Then again - I haven't looked for such items lately; my experience may be out of date, and such SMT to DIP adapters might be lower cost today...
cr0sh:
Furthermore - if they suddenly started charging less, those same companies purchasing them might see them as inferior due to a lower price (this is a well known psychological thing that applies across products and individuals/populations).
Reminds me of a story told about a surgeon who decided it was time to retire, so in order to reduce his workload, he decided to substantially increase his fees.
Consequently, his referrals went up rather significantly.
Consequently, his referrals went up rather significantly.
LOL