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Soldering vs Wire wrap — Parallax Forums

Soldering vs Wire wrap

UghaUgha Posts: 543
edited 2009-02-03 15:32 in General Discussion
I know that wire wrapping has a lot of bonus points that soldering doesn't (strain relief, easy updating, ect)
but does anyone actually use it nowadays?

Also, what's the cost like (the wire, the special sockets, ect) compared to soldering through-hole components?

Comments

  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-02-01 19:24
    I used wire-wrap a lot 20 years ago. PCBs are cheaper, more suitable for high-speed designs, and easier to work with. Many components these days simply aren't available in DIL.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2009-02-01 20:44
    I used wire wrap for many years, and occasionally use it even now for one of projects. What I use is a modification of the original wire wrap method and works with wire wrap sockets and solder pin ones as long as the pins protrude far enough to get 4 or 5 turns of wire on them.

    The insulation is stripped from the end of the wire, it is fed through the adjacent hole in the perf board, and 4 or 5 turns of the bare wire are wrapped around the pin. Once the circuit is working I solder all the wires to the pins.

    This would only be for a small project involving a few low speed logic chips and maybe a basic stamp or similar uc.
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2009-02-02 14:56
    I still use wire-wrap.
    My work has a lot of stock of wirewrap sockets and tools, so it's easier for me to prototype things (and cheaper) than to go and CAD a PCB and get it made.

    When I'm happy with my wire-wrap proto....I'll take a soldering iron and quickly flow solder on to the wraps....then clip the long legs so I can fit things in to a box.

    I've got an electric wire-wrap gun, so my fingers don't get gimped by the end of it.....it's actually quite meditative, without the nasty solder smoke!

    Cheers

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    <FONT>Steve



    What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
    Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-02-02 16:19
    I often make my own PCBs at home for prototypes - much easier and quicker than wire-wrap.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2009-02-03 14:43
    Leon, do you use one of those special markers on a bare copper sheet and just draw your pads? Or do you Cad your drawing..etc...

    I would say wire-wrapping is faster from beginning to end.
    We both have to draw up the schematic. You would then go on to CAD the drawing and I'd already be building it. Unless, of course, you're using those "solderable interconnect" boards (not sure what they're called)...but then that's not making your own PCB.

    Cheers

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    <FONT>Steve



    What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
    Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-02-03 15:32
    I use a PCB CAD program and photo-etch. It takes 30 minutes for me to make a PCB, once I've done the layout, plus drilling. Total time depends on the complexity, of course.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
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