COP Ignition Development

Great work. Do you have the tools to install the SMT components? I have never done so, but people who do it say for small volume or rework, they use a tiny solder paste applicator to extrude a dab on each pad, viewed under a magnifier. They place the chip as best they can, heat all the pads until they melt, then surface tension centers the chip in the pads. Much harder than thru-hole components, but when you reach high volumes it is all automated and surface mount becomes cheaper. Many chips today only come in SMT versions. At least you don't have any ball-grid array chips. Those must be extremely hard to install by hand.