Benchtop system keeps your leads on the straight and narrow

As IC pin counts increase and their pitches get tighter, lead fragility is a problem, and a bent pin or row of pins often means discarding an expensive device or a valuable prototype. To solve this problem, Fancort Industries offers the MLCS-2 manual lead reconditioner and the F-1B/1RC universal reformer, plus a tool and accessory kit (Picture). Using the system, you can recondition leads on TSOP and two- or four-sided gull-wing devices in about a minute. The overall process involves separating overlapping leads; restoring lead shape; and setting lead spacing, sweep, and coplanarity. The system handles devices measuring 7×7 to 32×32 mm with lead pitch down to 0.5 mm. Although it is expensive—$12,500 for the reconditioner and $5900 for the reformer—it may be better than the often-painful alternatives of discarding the device or spending frustrating hours trying to restore leads by hand.

Fancort Industries, 1-973-575-0610, www.fancort.com.