Homebrew PCBs

At 05:18 AM 2/6/2004, Ande_3 wrote:
>All,
>
>I'm trying to track down a PCB prototyping item and need some help.
>
>What I'm looking for are small copper tubes which are intended to be
>used for PCB vias instead of electroplating through holes.  I've used
>them before and think they're great but cannot remember the name of
>the company who sells them.

We use two different products for this: "Trak Pins" from Harwin and 
"CopperSet" from Multi-core.

The Harwin trak pins are used for vias - it is a stick of little tapered 
pins that fit tightly into a #66 drill hole.  Push it it, bend it to snap 
that pin from the stick, then solder both sides.  I think that each stick 
has around 50 pins in it.

The Multi-core CopperSet system is really neat: I use it when a component 
lead has to go through the hole.  It consists of sticks of solder that have 
been electroplated with copper & tin, then scored.  You put the board on a 
hard steel plate, push the stick (they call it a "bail") into the hole, 
then snap it off.  You then use a little impact punch to mash down the 
protruding part of the pin - this causes it to expand radially and tightly 
grip the hole.  Do all the holes that need it, then solder all those holes 
on both sides.  Now use a desoldering tool to clean the excess solder from 
inside the holes.

Works like a darn!  But it is time consuming and the replacement bails are 
expensive.

In summary: the Harwin trak pins fill the holes and thus are good for vias 
only.  The Multi-core Copperset system gives you the equivalent of plated 
through holes.

dwayne

PS - if anyone knows of a less expensive place to purchase replacement 
bails for the Copperset system, could you please post the information.

Thanks!

dwayne

-- 
Dwayne Reid   <dwayner@...>
Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd    Edmonton, AB, CANADA
(780) 489-3199 voice          (780) 487-6397 fax

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