The way of the via. Howto.

[wakibaki]

If you use doublesided PCBs then it's probably because of the added connrectivity you get. That means vias.

If you handmake DS PCBs you encounter the problem of wiring the vias. It is possible to thru-plate holes, but you really need a CNC machine to drill the holes. Purpose-made pins are available, but they require oversized via rings to solder readily.

I frequently make DS prototypes, and I hate doing the vias. They can be very time-consuming.

The other day I figured a way to speed things up.



Take a length of tinned copper wire (~18ins) and put a 'set' on it, by stretching it a fraction of an inch between 2 sets of pliers.

Cut as many inch lengths of wire as there are vias (needles).

Place the PCB on a piece of plastic sponge and stake it to the sponge with 'needles' through the vias, pushing them well home to ensure penetration of the sponge.

When all the vias are filled, make all the solder joints quickly to avoid too much melting of the sponge. Some plastics are better than others for this.

Remove the board from the sponge, clip the wires on the soldered side, turn the board over and solder the other side. Pull the tip of the iron away sideways when the joint is made, to avoid lifting the wire from the hole by surface tension, and clip all when finished.

The picture shows it all...

w