Perf+: The Perfboard Reinvented **kickstarter launch** - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:04:39 am
content: Perf+ is a new type of prototyping board which allows any two pads in a grid to be connected together via a two dimensional framework of copper. It allows connections only using a dab of solder instead of a massive blob and is easy to work.Read more:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/658903329/perf-the-perfboard-reinventedPrevious EEVblog discussionhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/perf/

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:11:21 am
content: The shallow depth of field on that photo burns my eyes - ARGH!

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:13:14 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2015, 10:11:21 amWas going for a out of focus shot, might have gone a bit too farThere is also one of these sitting in your mailbag pile

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:15:37 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2015, 10:11:21 amIf there is one thing I've learned it's that tech people generally want a large depth of field on angled PCB's and product shots, they want as much detail as possible.

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:17:22 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2015, 10:15:37 amThere are some scans of the PCBs further down the page

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:19:50 am
content: I can't help but thing the busses could have used a tappered necked-down bit between each pad to make cutting easier. A fat solid bus is harder to cut, and you can't use a veroboard rotating trace cutter.In fact you could include a trace cutter option in there was a small hole at each of the neck-downs.

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:45:46 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2015, 10:19:50 amInteresting idea, I was wondering on the tradeoff between current carrying and easy of cutting. Is 10 mils a reasonable midpoint?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:49:14 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2015, 10:19:50 am+1000Have a small hole in the copper (not through the board) , just big enough to use as a centre-mark. You probably want something a bit smaller than a vero spot cutter - a small twist drill works fine.The neck will also help with forming solder blobs - solder will be less prone to running along the trackI think the pads are a bit too small - looks like they are smaller than the min annular ring spec for many PCB suppliers. They could be wider - obviously the pad shape on each layer would be rotated 90 deg.This would also make it easier to solder-blob between adjacent pads without needing to use the bus rails.I'm not sure I'd even bother with resist - with the right pad & gap sizes it's probably not going to help much.I also think you should have a symmetrical gap each side, rather than offset, so you can link a trace to the bus either side.TBH I wouldn't bother with the LED blinker stuff - it's just a distraction from the core product.Why 1.2mm thick rather than the more standard 1.6?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 10:50:41 am
content: Quote from: kindiana on April 04, 2015, 10:45:46 amCurrent carrying isn't an issue - you can always us wire for anything heavy.10 mils maybe a little thin for soldering without risk of lifting the track

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 11:01:45 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 04, 2015, 10:49:14 amYes, would have to be smaller. Maybe a small drill bit with a big fat shank for grip, the kind they use on PCB spindles.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 11:04:26 am
content: Quote from: kindiana on April 04, 2015, 10:45:46 amCurrent capacity isn't a major issue. If people need high current they can solder a wire on the track. 99% of uses will be small/medium current stuff.10 mil is a bit small, maybe 20? It just needs to neck down at least say half the current track width.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 11:08:46 am
content: It's not ideal, but I've just backed it. Always like trying new proto boards.Having said that I really don't need another 5 555's, but more boards is always good

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 11:13:21 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2015, 10:19:50 amSorta like this?

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 11:13:50 am
content: Quote from: BradC on April 04, 2015, 11:08:46 amThanks!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 11:38:05 am
content: Quote from: kindiana on April 04, 2015, 11:13:21 amYes, but maybe a wider neck, so when an adjacent pad is soldered, the solder blob doesn't get in the way of cutting the track

author: albert22
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 01:54:23 pm
content: Quote}some packets??

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 02:34:19 pm
content: Quote from: albert22 on April 04, 2015, 01:54:23 pmI'd guess he meant that some packets may get lost during shipping.

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 02:39:56 pm
content: Quote from: kindiana on April 04, 2015, 11:13:21 amI like this idea very much, I hope it makes it into your design. I've just backed you.

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2015, 08:24:40 pm
content: Quote from: albert22 on April 04, 2015, 01:54:23 pmGod dammitfixed now

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 09:28:26 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 04, 2015, 10:49:14 amI have implemented your suggestion combined with dave's. What do you think of this shape?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 11:41:14 am
content: Yes - something like that, but I think the pad-to-pad gap is too wide - it would be good to link adjacent pads without using the rails. A simple rectangular pad would allow this, as well as linking to the rail either side - I think only being able to connect to a rail on on side will be too limiting.

author: pretenda
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 01:05:06 pm
content: Looks neat. I am low on perfboard, so i pledged .. looking forward to seeing how it goes. Will you have a store to buy them from in future? Or will you provide the gerbers so we can get some made ourselves? (happy either way!)

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 09:16:37 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 05, 2015, 11:41:14 amI am reluctant to add pads in more than one direction because it is difficult to control the direction of solder flow.

author: kindiana
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 09:18:15 pm
content: Quote from: pretenda on April 05, 2015, 01:05:06 pmCurrently unsure of what to do after the kickstarter but I will probably setup a online store seeing the high demand.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 10:02:07 pm
content: Quote from: kindiana on April 05, 2015, 09:16:37 pmIf you get the gap right it's not a problem - remember solder has high surface tension, so needs to be actively dragged over a gap.