Perf board primer please

[Guest]

[quote author="StephenGiles"]

uk03878 - It's veroboard, see Mark's tutorial above!
Stephen[/quote]
doohh!!

sorry... brain not in gear..
veroboard = stripboard not padboard/matrix

 

[StephenGiles]

Mark - here is the link:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Search.bok?start=17&total=21&searchpath=41679771101f356713dc9&category=ICs+Delays+and+Echo

seems like he's got some SAD 1024s again!
Stephen

 

[NewYorkDave]

I must be in the minority... I have never made a PCB. (I've stuffed PCBs made elsewhere, though. Matter of fact, stuffing PCBs was my job when I was about 19-20 years old). All of my "from scratch" builds have been handwired in some fashion or another, either point-to-point, or on perfboard, pad-per-hole board or stripboard. Someday I'll try my hand at laying out and fabricating a PCB, but that day just hasn't come yet. I'll probably end up doing it by hand using rub-on transfers because I just don't have the patience to learn PCB layout software.

 

[Scodiddly]

I tried making a PCB once... didn't work, but mainly I ended up obsessed with the whole toxic waste issue. In that sense perf board is a bit more friendly, or those little Radio Shack boards with the IC power rails down the middle - those are great for little op-amp circuits.

I just saw somebody's project photos over in the micbuilders group, and had a revelation of sorts. Veroboard with some SMD resistors across the copper strips, and conventional components too. That could really make it easy to shrink things down.

 

[Mark Burnley]

Stephen,

Thanks for the link! That's a great parts resource. I need some spares for stuff I've got, and some projects I've got plans for but up to now had no parts supply.

Cheers!

Mark

 

[StephenGiles]

Yes, Steve Daniels set up his business to primarily supply stompbox builders but he keeps a lot of very useful parts. He is also very reliable for shipping to Europe.
Stephen

 

[Anonym]

Is there any disadvantage qualitywise when using padboards instead of PCBs? I just started reading a bit about making PCBs but if there's no real advantage in it i'd rather focus on the actual circuits...

 

[soundguy]

if you are talking about analog circuits as discussed here, with a smart layout, no no disadvantage that you will hear. If you wanted to get nitpicky and get meters out and compare different grounding schemes between a PTP perf project and a PCB with a ground plane Id bet you can probably measure something, but certainly nothing you are going to hear through a big mix IMO.

dave

 

[Anonym]

thanks ^_^

 

[Family Hoof]

[quote author="Anonym"]Is there any disadvantage qualitywise when using padboards instead of PCBs?[/quote]
You may have a harder time soldering directly to the copper padboard than you would a tinned PCB pad. I'd say that's a disadvantage, especially if the components are exposed to more heat in the process.

 

[sbranco]

I was surprised to find cheap perfboard at Radio Shack. I ordered some from Digikey but what I saw at Radio Shack afterward looked cheaper and just as good if you just want something to hold the components in place.