At one time, the MELF (Metal Electrode Leadless Face) SMD components were the rage. They are love vibrations (it got dropped/knocked?), almost immune to thermal shocks (someone left it in the freezer and took it out?), better heat dissipation, and long-term stability in operation. Heck, when compared to the normal chip resistors (eg. 0805 and 1206, etc.) in terms of power rating, the MELF is still far superior.
I want to use them but…
I have been using the MELF package in the form of a diode and that was fun. Now, I was hoping to use the form again, this time with the resistors. But first thing first- it is round and tends to roll off. Actually, that is not an issue since I am hand soldering the components but it could be if, they were automated. You have to switch the ‘pick & place’ nozzles to the MELF version and monitor its air pressure or else it becomes the alternative MELF (Most End up Lying on the Floor.). Anyway, I have yet to encounter my tweezers slipping and pinging the diode into unknown space.
Actually, the real reason is that it is expensive now that everyone favours the chip resistors. Physically, these MELF components looked similar to their through-hole counterparts but smaller and with their long leads missing. And aesthetically, they are fun to design into a circuit board.
Image courtesy of dae-audio.ca
