Homebrew PCBs

Stefan Trethan wrote:

>
>Not really for me. TT, when it's done, leaves a pretty normal board, i had  
>no worries there.
>But having SMD resistors stuck through it does not leave something  
>conventional. So there might be problems later on.
>For example, thermal expansion might be something to think about, and not  
>properly "seeing" the component another thing.
>
>I'm not against it, but i'm very sceptical about it. also, the holes would  
>need to be relatively big. I'd be more comfortable with wire vias, but  
>then, i've gotten pretty good at avoiding them alltogether.
>
>But i'm very curious to hear about results.
>
>  
>


  With ceramic instead of copper, should have less expansion etc.  All 
zero ohm resistors would make it no real component to see anyway, just a 
nice little wire carrier that stays in the hole by itself before you 
solder..  But in with the original though was also that you could hide 
functional resistors this way, if you really worked at it you could make 
a board tougher to figure out..  Still, anyone looking at it with a 
meter should spot the non-zero trace resistances fast enough, even if it 
takes them a little to work out where the resistors are.

  Mainly mentioned it for the idea, I hardly ever use vias myself.  
Rectangular strip metal with indentions to make it snappable, and a 
press to press it and split the ends over to the sides, would be a dirt 
cheap via maker.  Wouldn't be circular like the other rivets so no 
through hole, but find metal strips already made and just sell 2 tools, 
one to perf the strip, and a press to cinch them in.  Still hardly worth 
doing, but 10 times less cost than the circular ones..

Alan