Bent microcontroller legs... how can I repair it?

[profaz]

Hi everyone!
I was removing a microcontroller from a board but, shame on me, I did it with some violence and I ended up with all the pin legs bent...really bent. Are there tricks or tips that I should be aware of, before starting to bend the legs back? My nightmare is that I brake them. Should I warm them up or use some particular tool? You can see the situation in the following pictures:

The microcontroller is P87C750EBPN but it is loaded with BFT/POLLUCE v2.4 that I don't know where to find in case the situation becomes tragic.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Alec_t]

If the pins are tinned copper, even the severely bent ones would hopefully survive being straightened. Might not be lucky, though, if the pins are plated mild steel (a magnet should tell you). Personally, I wouldn't advise heating the pins; you'd have to get them pretty hot to anneal them and might cook the IC.

 

[Anon_LG]

This has happened many a time when removing DIPs from those terrible high insertion force dip sockets. I once managed to get one wedged in so hard that when I pulled it out, the leg edge embedded itself in my thumb.

Those legs will likely not survive more than three major bends before breaking. If you are careful, you can re-align the legs by hand, I would suggest needle nose pliers. Be very careful, there is often no warning when DIP packages legs break from trying to re-align them. I have an attiny with the vcc pin snapped clean off, making it useless.

For getting IC's out in the future, I recommend anything that is long, thin, flat and unlikely to bend. A flathead will do the job, but only raise each side by a little each time.

 

[davenn]

just use a pair of SMALL needle nosed pliers to VERY GENTLY straighten the pins

 

[profaz]

Thank you very much!! I solved following your suggestions. I could align most of them by hand, for the last two I used a needle a bit too bigm but it worked, thanks again!

 

[davenn]

Thank you very much!! I solved following your suggestions. I could align most of them by hand, for the last two I used a needle a bit too bigm but it worked, thanks again!

That one is really huge and for much heavier wire and if not careful could result in more damage


get some much finer ones like the one I showed ... you will find many uses in the electronics workshop

pleased you got sorted out

Dave

 

[duke37]

If you do break a leg, a new one can be soldered on with luck!
I did this with a computer maths chip which was thrown out at work.