Homebrew PCBs

On Tuesday 27 April 2004 11:54 pm, mpdickens wrote:
> --- "Roy J. Tellason" <rtellason@...> wrote:
> > I wonder if there's any feasibility to using some kind of a CNC setup to
> > do wire-wrapping?  Any of you guys have any thoughts on this?

> The only model that I can think of would involve a setup similar to a sewing
> machine (With a sewing needle). It would use small gauge enamel covered
> wire: The type used for magnetic windings.

This reminds me of a "wiring pencil" that somebody (Vector?) came out with 
some years back.  You were supposed to be able to use this thing to sort of 
wrap wire around component leads and similar stuff,  and then solder right 
through the insulation.

Then there's the regular "wire-wrap pencil" that I think Radio Shack sold for 
a while (dunno if they still do).  That had a small spool on the top of the 
unit,  and a little slider with one of the positions being "cut",  I forget 
what the other one is labeled.  Maybe something working on that principle 
might be feasible,  though I'd rather go with more wire than with those 
little bitty spools that thing used.

> Wire wrapping is great for prototyping in conjunction with bread boards, but
> that's about all it's good for. It's much easier to etch than build and use
> the Frankenstein I just described.
>
> IMHO: What a nightmare...

I'd say that depends on what you're building.  For stuff involving odd 
packages and any nontrivial number of discrete components I'd be inclined to 
agree with you.  OTOH,  when you start talking about a lot of logic chips,  
or even some processors and other LSI,  etched boards start to require a lot 
of jumpers or you end up needing a multilayer board,  and I don't care to go 
there,  either.

I'm sure that it's possible,  as I've seen ads for companies that would do 
that sort of thing.  Whether it's feasible for a homebrew setup is another 
issue entirely,  though.  That's why I raised the question in the first 
place.  :-)