Homebrew PCBs

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 23:59:19 -0800 (PST), Tom Stathes  
<newphreak_16@...> wrote:

>
> I found a good way to do the vias, I bend some thin
> copper wire into a "cotter pin" shape. Insert into the
> via all the way,and spread like you would a cotter
> pin. It stays in place, and is easy to solder on the
> top and bottem., then just clip the excess wire off.
> This works best if there is a copper ring around the
> whole via. I tend to tare the via pad off when
> drilling the hole and just have track going to a hole.
> It still works but may take an extra second.
> --Tom


Nice idea, you might want to use larger pads for vias as the default ones  
are meant for throughhole plated boards.

The cotter pin is a little much work forming IMO, perhaps it could be  
accelerated by winding copper wire around two parallel rods, and then  
pressing together in the middle. then cut through the middle and you get a  
pin each side, each loop. Must try.

Another fast method is to use a long wire and thread it through all the  
vias you find, then solder, and then cut the connecting pieces. Wasteful  
for the wire but if you take it from scrap doesn't matter.

Another thing useful for vias is solder pins, they can be hammered in with  
a tool (rod with a hole on the end) and stay in the hole due to friction.  
Thinking of it it would be easy to use small pieces of wire instead of the  
pins, placed with a similar tool. just cut the excess. cutting diagonally  
will make insertion easier i guess.

ST