Homebrew PCBs

Many years ago Tektronix used this method in a small (3 inch?) rack
mount scope module. There were many intermittent failures due to
differential thermal expansion of the PCB material and the rivets. We
had several of these units where I worked and we had to periodically
resolder all of the rivetted vias.

Dick Ballard
Beaverton OR
W7AND


On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 12:18:53 -0000, you wrote:

>I'm trying to track down a PCB prototyping item and need some help.
>
>What I'm looking for are small copper tubes which are intended to be 
>used for PCB vias instead of electroplating through holes.  I've used 
>them before and think they're great but cannot remember the name of 
>the company who sells them.
>
>The are intended to be used like a rivet where one side of the tube 
>has a flange and the other is bent over using a special tool on a 
>drill press.  However, I find it much quicker and better to simply 
>solder both sides to the via pad.
>
>Does anyone know where I can find these?  Basically what I'm looking 
>for is some kind of conductor to solder in my via holes.  Wire 
>doesn't realy work since it has to be held in place while soldering.  
>The flanges in these little copper cylindars worked great for that.