Greetings QRP-Lmers,
I came across an idea to use self-adhesive copper tape from a
stained-glass hobby shop stuck onto cardboard as an extremely cheap
prototyping board. The idea came from the Australian QRP club's page
somewhere...
I got a big roll ($4) from a local hobby shop, and thought I'd use it in
strips. Then I thought, I could make etching patterns, only on the top
of the circuit, with this. Simply cut to the size needed and lay them
down. I have to solder the pieces together, but it works dandy. I just
solder the components to the top of the copper.
This was working fine for most things, but I had to bend transister
leads carefully and balance them while soldering them. IC's didn't work
at all. Yesterday, I wanted to put terminal lugs on the board, so I took
a dental tool and punched a hole through the copper tape and cardboard
and screwed in the lugs. Works dandy! *Ding* Why not do the same for
transisters and IC's (smaller holes of course)? Well, whadaya know, it
works! Now I can lay down my traces, solder the joints, poke holes for
the components, and I have a nice layout. In fact, I can make vias the
same way. I can overlay the copper tape by placing a bit of electrical
tape between runs, too. Wow, this is almost as good as a real pcboard,
and strong enough to be used indefinitely.
Just thought I'd share my discovery with the group. It's fast and
cheap, and I can just throw it away if I don't like it...
Mark Arvidson
KB0SPQ
arvidson@swbell.net
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