Machined IC sockets - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: JoeyG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 06:34:24 pm
content: I've got some intermittent IC sockets on an Atrai 2600 to replace.Are the round machined IC sockets much better than the single or dual wipe versions?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 06:35:35 pm
content: yes its like getting rid of twine lashings in your car engine and replacing them with real bolts

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 06:54:17 pm
content: For years, I used those machined pin sockets for everything. Various sizes are made, including one for the ubiquitous 0.025" square header. Never had a problem. Then last year I had a problem with a long 28-pin MCU. It took quite awhile to find it: The IC was fully inserted, and a few pins didn't make contact. Pulling it a little way out solved the problem, but then why mess with doing that?I switched to a leaf contact that is probably better for thin, flat pins (attachment). Go with a reputable supplier. I stick with TE/AMP etc. An added benefit is that ICs are easier to remove. For square headers, I use either but prefer the leaf or "Berg-type, which is a leaf contact. For round, I use round machine connectors.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 06:57:51 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on June 13, 2025, 06:35:35 pmMy Amish neighbors use leather, not twine for their "engines."

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 06:58:03 pm
content: I think it has more to do with absolute pressure and the contact cleaning then the exact geometry. Those leaf ones can be so loose that it lets air in with vibration and stuff and slowly oxidizes (like some sort of pump like a rubber sheet flapping on the table since its flat)... high pressure makes some kind of microscopic air seal some where (on a very small point that is clamped VERRY tight)Its quite interesting if you look inside with a microscope, and also if you look at the materails. Machine pin will be berylium copper with gold, those leaf are brass stampings with tin. of course you can make any technology better and its possible some leaf contacts are optimized but more often then not its cheap BSbecause they have a tiny high performance insert doing the 'work' (spring hard berylium copper) it ends up working better then a distributed structure doing the work which they can form in the high speed punch pressIMO its like having a carbide insert in a cutting tool...I think the good reputation from the machine pin socket interacting with the flat IC leg comes from the contact material and high pressure of the tiny 'fold' more then geometrycontact performance always has to do withpressurefor most things.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 07:07:44 pm
content: I do wonder what the performance of leaf style DIP chip contacts would be if they made them with the same materials (assuming the chip can handle the insertion, it would probobly break a leg)

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 07:11:02 pm
content: also give those crusty old leaf springs a light polish and you will see howawfulthe surface integrity is on old oxidized sockets. Its mattereplacing it with anything new will be a huge performance boostI am curious about using liquid tin on them, I wonder if the liquid tin will revitalize the crusted tin or lay on top of it? \Does anyone know if it actually strips the crusty material before laying on new material? I mean like mg chemicals liquid tin. Because it would still be useful to know if you can restore those sockets with a chemical process, particularly for repairing stuff that has alot of faults and might end up in the trash without buying a lot of new sockets and then later determining its not worth to repair

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 09:45:57 pm
content: The answer is easy: If the military and high class manufacturer use the machined sockets, they do that for a reason - likely, because it's the best solution available.And really, I do find them better than those cheapo sockets.(Sidenote: I cracked a few of these sockets to extract the socket pins - to solder them in for temporary bridges and parts. If the temporary parts then go permanent, you can easily solder them into the sockets. There are also 1x40 strips that can be broken down, but they are more expensive than leftover sockets and you can't permanently solder parts into them.)