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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplane needed
Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplane needed
I am looking to prototype a couple of small boards containing LINX TXM-433 LC and LR transmitter modules. These have pads on 0.1" centers and thus will match the Vector board strips that I am familiar with. However for this application, I need a ground plane under the module, and so am looking for a "vector" board with strips, but without plated through holes and ideally a solid ground plane on the reverse side. I would prefer plated traces and fiberglass insulation. These will be simple boards, a TXM-433-LC, a couple of 555 timers and some discrete components. Any recommendations? -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P |
#2
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
On Jul 10, 9:31 pm, RFI-EMI-GUY wrote:
Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplane needed I am looking to prototype a couple of small boards containing LINX TXM-433 LC and LR transmitter modules. These have pads on 0.1" centers and thus will match the Vector board strips that I am familiar with. However for this application, I need a ground plane under the module, and so am looking for a "vector" board with strips, but without plated through holes and ideally a solid ground plane on the reverse side. I would prefer plated traces and fiberglass insulation. These will be simple boards, a TXM-433-LC, a couple of 555 timers and some discrete components. Any recommendations? Three or four ideas: o Get what you want made by one of the proto shops. Two-sided boards aren't outrageous. o Use a piece of unetched board stock and glue strips with 0.1"- spaced pads onto it. (Seems like I've seen some places selling strips like that, maybe even with contact adhesive already on the backs.) o Etch your own. This is close to trivial if you're already set up for it, but since you're asking, you probably aren't, so it may not make much sense. o Quite useful if there aren't too many pads involved: start with double-sided copper-clad. Score one side as needed with a utility or XActo knife, and pull up the unwanted copper. I do this occasionally for SOIC parts, 0.05" lead spacing; it's very quick for small hacks. Cheers, Tom |
#3
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
K7ITM wrote:
snip I need a ground plane under the module, and so am looking for a "vector" board with strips, but without plated through holes and ideally a solid ground plane on the reverse side. snip o Quite useful if there aren't too many pads involved: start with double-sided copper-clad. Score one side as needed with a utility or XActo knife, and pull up the unwanted copper. I do this occasionally for SOIC parts, 0.05" lead spacing; it's very quick for small hacks. Also, consider using the E.F. Stahler or equiv. mini-mill bits to drill out pads on the component side; this is a canonical method of building high-frequency pcb prototypes. You then have large copper fill on the component side as well as the reverse side plane. Michael |
#4
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplane needed
On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:17:19 -0500, msg wrote:
E.F. Stahler E.F. Stahler does not Google well for me. Do you have a url? John Ferrell W8CCW |
#5
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
On Jul 11, 12:31*am, RFI-EMI-GUY wrote:
Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplane needed I am looking to prototype a couple of small boards containing LINX TXM-433 LC and LR transmitter modules. These have pads on 0.1" centers and thus will match the Vector board strips that I am familiar with. However for this application, I need a ground plane under the module, and so am looking for a "vector" board with strips, but without plated through holes and ideally a solid ground plane on the reverse side. I would prefer plated traces and fiberglass insulation. These will be simple boards, a TXM-433-LC, a couple of 555 timers and some discrete components. Any recommendations? "Dead bug". Or, drill holes for all leads, and then use a small milling machine cutter or just a larger drill bit to remove the copper where you don't need it. For prototyping, "dead bug" is way way superior to vectorboards etc, even with digital parts. Tim. |
#6
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
Tim Shoppa wrote:
snip Or, drill holes for all leads, and then use a small milling machine cutter or just a larger drill bit to remove the copper where you don't need it. Indeed, this is what the Stahler mini-mill bits do; they create an instant pad wherever it is needed. Stahler may no longer be in business, but perhaps there are other pcb fab mini-mill bits out there. If not, a good machine shop should be able to create a few for commonly used pad sizes, and they will be forever useful (to justify the expense). Michael |
#7
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
On Fri, 11 Jul 2008, msg wrote:
Tim Shoppa wrote: snip Or, drill holes for all leads, and then use a small milling machine cutter or just a larger drill bit to remove the copper where you don't need it. Indeed, this is what the Stahler mini-mill bits do; they create an instant pad wherever it is needed. Stahler may no longer be in business, but perhaps there are other pcb fab mini-mill bits out there. If not, a good machine shop should be able to create a few for commonly used pad sizes, and they will be forever useful (to justify the expense). There was something about making one, I'm pretty sure in "Ham Radio", sometime before 1974 (I can't figure out which article it was from an accumulated index). I can't remember whether it was a homemade version of the Stahler tool, or if Stahler came after to provide a commercial version. I can't remember the details (and I don't feel like digging through the magazines to find the article now), but it wasn't much more than a piece of good steel tubing. Michael VE2BVW |
#8
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplane needed
There was something about making one, I'm pretty sure in "Ham Radio", sometime before 1974 (I can't figure out which article it was from an accumulated index). I can't remember whether it was a homemade version of the Stahler tool, or if Stahler came after to provide a commercial version. I can't remember the details (and I don't feel like digging through the magazines to find the article now), but it wasn't much more than a piece of good steel tubing. Michael VE2BVW This may be too late to help the original poster, but the pad-cutter is still available from a couple of sources. The price is WAY out of line, in my hobby-like mentality. http://www.vectorelect.com/Catpdf/Page%2071.pdf The above shows the sizes and styles currently produced. A Goggle search on "pad cutter" or "Vector pad cutter" will turn up some commercial sources (Digikey, etc.), but prices are in the $70-80 range. A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea. www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html . While I haven't made one using these instructions, it appears to be workable. My employer may purchase one of the Vector P138 cutters, just in case I have to fab up something in the tool and die shop where I hang out sometimes. Of course, I could build one, but.... as long as it's other people's money, why not buy! Mike W5CHR Memphis |
#9
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea.
www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html . While I haven't made one using these instructions, it appears to be workable. ========================= A few years ago I bought a few islander-padcutters through the G-QRP Club. Excellent for homebrewing with discrete components . The circular ring removed from the copper clad board is less than 1 mm wide ,so maximum copper clad area remains ensuring a good ground plane . Each island can take up 3 component leads All grounded components are upright soldered into drilled holes , with the other lead to serve as connecting point for other components. As an alternative to islands I fit 10 MegOhm resistors upright used as 'insulators' in non-high impedence circuits. The islands combined with above alternative methods ensure zero to very short fitted component leads. Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH |
#10
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Recommendation for RF Prototype "Vector Board" with groundplaneneeded
On 13 Jul, 22:03, Highland Ham
wrote: * * A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea. *www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html. While I haven't made one using these instructions, it appears to be workable. ========================= A few years ago I bought a few islander-padcutters through the G-QRP Club. * Excellent for homebrewing with discrete components . The circular ring removed from the copper clad board is less than *1 mm wide ,so maximum copper clad area remains ensuring a good ground plane . Each island can take up 3 component leads All grounded components are upright soldered into drilled holes , with the other lead to serve as connecting point for other components. As an alternative to islands I fit 10 MegOhm resistors upright used as 'insulators' in non-high impedence circuits. The islands combined with above alternative methods ensure zero to very short fitted component leads. Frank * GM0CSZ / KN6WH Farnell used to sell isolated pad cutters. I've got a couple and they weren't expensive. They might still stock them. Leon |
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