Just for fun, I thought I would try to make a working circuit, dead-bug style, with SMD parts. I don't have any experience with SMD, but you have to start somewhere. I ordered some TL082 chips in SOIC size a long time ago by mistake. They look like this under my microscope:
Seems like you ought to be able to make a simple buffer out of the opamp, 2 resistors (for bias), and 2 caps (input and output). I figured (in my ignorance) that you could just flip the opamp over and start soldering parts to the pins. Here's my first partially complete attempt (abomination):
So lesson 1 is - you can't just solder SMD parts to each other and wire - at least I couldn't.
I decided to make a tiny PCB with some PCB stock that is only 0.22mm thick. That turned out pretty good, even though the smallest trace is only .01" wide. Here's the result (etched with the toner not removed yet):
This material is so thin it's almost clear - and easy to cut with ordinary scissors. Here's the PCB glued to the bottom of the opamp:
After attaching some small wires, the SMD parts,and crimping the right legs over the edge of the PCB, it's done. It's just as well that this picture is kind of blurry - 'cause it's not too pretty.
After a few unpowered tests for continuity, etc., it fired right up the first time. Here's the final product - at least until my patience gets recharged enough to mount it in something.
