Homebrew PCBs

Actually I believe that the patent holders, Gardner Denver / Cooper Industries did produce an automated wire wrap machine years ago.  

Was used to WW backplanes for big iron mainframe computer. 

Having been in the computer business since 1976 I do recall one of the early now long gone micro manufacture that did an S-100 or ??  backplane with automated wirewrap.

Hugh

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Phil 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 12:38 AM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: wire-wrap


  actually, I think that this could be done with what is emerging as a 
  some what standard CNC PCB machine (3 axis basis plus "special" 
  axises (axees?)) with a wrap gun attachment.  I see two problems that 
  need solution: 

  a) routing the wires. probably done by hand but you need to handle 
  the issue of binding and wire build up.

  b) ww socket tails (i.e. the wire posts you wrap on) are not terribly 
  accurate in their position.  I've used em and its inevitible that 
  they get bent a little.  Finding the post to slide the wire spinner 
  onto would be tricky.  maybe just have a funnel on the wrap tool to 
  guide the sleeve to the post.

  Of course, this is kind of a moot point as WW appears to be 
  dissapearing.  Guess those pesky SMDs dont wrap very well...

  But this does bring up a kind of wild idea I've thought about during 
  episodes of low blood sugar.  Why not just have a direct wire 
  machine?  Stuff the components (TH, of course) into a predrilled 
  board. Invert the board (securing the components somehow) and then a 
  machine strips a wire, solders it to a lead, moves (er, routes the 
  wire) to the next lead, cuts the wire (if terminal run), solders it 
  to the lead and moves to the next lead.  There was a company in the 
  70s (could still be around) called multiwire or some such that did 
  this for fast turn prototypes. It was quite expensive but it produced 
  some very complex boards fast.  If I remember correctly, the first 
  intel 386 logic simulator (made out of random logic gates) was built 
  with this technology.  I think fast turn PCB houses pretty much 
  killed their business.





  Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Yahoo! Groups Links

    a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/
      
    b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Homebrew_PCBs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
      
    c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]