Question for the small company people / consultants: How do you handle the Analog Devices LFCSP parts ?
There's a growing trend for Analog Devices to bring out parts in only the LFCSP package. For example the just announced AD8336 VCA and the ADXL320 accelerometer.
The LFCSP is impossible to tack down with a soldering iron because the pads are underneath the part. Only melting solder paste with some sort of heat gun will work, and a very accurate touch to spread it only on the tiny pads. In comparison the TSOP and SOT-23 size SMT parts are easy.
So, what do you do if you want to try out the part in your circuits? Just buy the eval board and make do? Or are these parts only targeted at the big companies that can afford to have stenciled SMT runs?