PCB - Help needed

computer guy

Hi all

I need to join the pads on one side of a PCB to the other side, does anyone know of a technique to do this?


Thank you

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Bruce Bates

computer guy -

The element that you need is called a "via" which explains rather well what it does. It creates a path from one side of a PCB to the other. A via is really nothing more than a tiny brass grommet, not unlike an open, tubular rivet.

Although I've not used them in quite some time, as I remember one side is already swaged prior to purchase, and the other is swaged after insertion in the PCB. This prevents them from falling through the hole in the PCB prior to soldering. After final swaging, both sides of the via opening are soldered to the appropriate solder pad upon which it rests.

If you're not looking for production quantities, you might ask one of the folks here on the Stamp list to purchase what you need from them, or if it's only a small number, you may only need to pay the postage. It's not that they're all that expensive, it's that you need to order a minimum quantity of hundreds or thousands of them at a time from most distributors or electronic supply houses. Unfortunately, they have few other uses and they're not very tasty

Regards,

Bruce Bates

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uxorious

What you are looking for is called an eyelet and they are typically used to repair damaged vias and through-holes and still meet appropriate specs (IPC-600 and IPC-610). Check here:
www.circuitmedic.com/products/115-7000.shtml
And here is the process:
www.circuitmedic.com/guides/5-1.shtml

The easy hobbyist method create a "via" is to drill a hole through the PCB at the topside and bottomside pads, then solder a piece of wire through the hole to the two pads. See picture.

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~~ dRu ~~

computer guy

The eyelet might be an option.
The only problem with the wire is that it doesnt help with ic sockets with pads on both sides of the board.

Thank you

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Sparks-R-Fun

computer guy said...
The only problem with the wire is that it doesnt help with ic sockets with pads on both sides of the board.

Actually, it does help… assuming you can solder the socket pins to both the top and bottom pads. In that case you do not even need extra wire. The socket pins themselves become the circuit vias!

- Sparks

Whelzorn

well the problem with sockets is that they tend to block access to the pads on the top. Drilling holes and putting in vias is exactly the reason I'm trying to move over to SMT parts.

computer guy

Might have to start using SMT parts myself.
Just started getting into making my own electronics.

Just wondering, I am using press 'n' peel film for my boards. When removing the film I use Nailpolish Remover (Acetone), however this tends to smudge the file all over the board :-(
Is there something I can use that won't smudge the film?

Thank you

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RDL2004

When are you using acetone? That's supposed to be the last step. You use it to remove the pattern after you etch the board, and it shouldn't just "smudge it" - it should dissolve it like sugar in water.

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- Rick

Jason-WI

http://www.intl-eyelets.com/index.html

I have never used them.

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He who dies with the most toys wins!

computer guy

I am using nailpolish remover (80% acetone).
Am using it to remove pattern after etching.
Will get some pure acetone from hardware store in the next few days and see if that does a better job.

Do·NOT use nailpolish remover to remove press 'n' peel.

Thank you

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RDL2004

computer guy said...
I am using nailpolish remover (80% acetone).
Am using it to remove pattern after etching.

Okay, that's cool. It wasn't clear from the wording of the earlier post what the problem exactly was. It sounded like you didn't want to smudge the film, when what you want to do is remove it completely.

Speaking as a formulator of industrial wood finishes (where I work we buy acetone by the tank wagon - thousands of gallons at a time, several times a week - I have a couple of gallon size cans at my bench), it may be the other stuff in the nail polish remover that's causing the problem.

Nail polish remover usually has lots of oils and moisturizers and other additives (possibly even water) in addition to the acetone to keep it from drying out the skin when it's used. I would try to get pure acetone - MEK (methyl ethlyl ketone) or "lacquer thinner" would be other things to try that would probably work well. Acetone also evaporates incredibly fast, maybe that is part of the problem - it dries before it can completely dissolve the pattern, thus leading to the smearing?

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- Rick

computer guy

Ok since I am going smt.
Does anyone know of an smt version of these parts -

LM3914N Linear Comparator IC

4N25 Optocoupler IC

LM4558N Dual OpAmp IC

and what resistor package to pick in eagle layout editor.

Thank you

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computer guy

Anyone.... No, Oh well.

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Morrolan

If you are using a through-hole socket and you are worried that you cannot make a via or solder the socket pin to the top side of the board without melting it etc - place the pads on both sides of the board as normal, and simply offset the via to the side.

(Apologise for the MSPaint naff-ness of the attached picture)

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Flying is simple. You just throw yourself at the ground and miss.

"I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image."
Stephen Hawking

RDL2004

The LM3914 is available in a 20 pin plcc package, you can find at National Semiconductor.

www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM3914.html#Availability

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- Rick

David H.

LM3914N Linear Comparator IC Surface Mount = LM3914VX from National Semiconductor

4N25 Optocoupler IC Surface Mount = 4N25S from Lite-On Inc.

LM4558N Dual OpAmp IC Surface Mount = All I found was RC4558DR from Texas Instruments & MC4558IDT from STMicroelectronics.

All are available from Digi-Key.

Hope this helps.
David

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David


There are 10 types of people in this world,...
Those that understand binary numbers, and those that don't!!!

computer guy

Thanks everyone that will help a lot.

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uxorious

Just came across these:
http://www.t-tech.com/order/category.asp?sectionid=2&catid=65&catname=Thru+Hole+Materials

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~~ dRu ~~