Where Can I Find a Proto Board 'Speedwire' for Prototyping?

  • Thread starter Dan King
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Board
In summary, the conversation revolved around the obsolete Speedwire boards previously made by BICC-Vero, which are essentially PCB's with holes on a 0.100" grid loaded with pins for sockets on the top side for component mounting and insulation displacement forks on the bottom side for wiring. A member named Dan, who used these boards for prototyping about ten years ago, was having trouble finding one now and was seeking help from other members. The conversation also touched on the use and pricing of these prototype boards, as well as discussions on mixed signal circuitry and split ground and power planes.
  • #1
Dan King
8
0
"Speedwire" boards used to be made by an obsolete company called BICC-Vero. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedwire

These things are basically PCB's with holes on a 0.100" grid loaded with pins that are sockets on the top side for component mounting and insulation displacements forks on the bottom side for wiring. I used them for prototyping about ten years ago and could use one again now that I have a cool new job at << advertising link edited out by berkeman >>

These things are very fast and versitile for development work but I'm having trouble finding one.

Anybody out there have one they could part with or know where I can find one?

Please respond to this post or email me at << e-mail address edited out by berkeman >>

Best Regards,

Dan
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #2
Dan King said:
"Speedwire" boards used to be made by an obsolete company called BICC-Vero. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedwire

These things are basically PCB's with holes on a 0.100" grid loaded with pins that are sockets on the top side for component mounting and insulation displacements forks on the bottom side for wiring. I used them for prototyping about ten years ago and could use one again now that I have a cool new job at << advertising link edited out by berkeman >>

These things are very fast and versitile for development work but I'm having trouble finding one.

Anybody out there have one they could part with or know where I can find one?

Please respond to this post or email me at << e-mail address edited out by berkeman >>

Best Regards,

Dan

Welcome to the PF. We generally do not allow posting of e-mail addresses in the open forums -- it attracts spam bots. Just use the PM system if you want private messages.

Also, posting a link to the place that you work on your first post here is a bit too spammy, so I deleted that link.

Do you have any photos of these prototyping boards? They sound expensive, but interesting.
 
  • #3
No picture but they look just like a normal proto board with a bunch of holes on a .1" grid. These just have all the holes stuffed with pins that double as sockets for parts and insulation displacement contacts for wiring. I would estimate prototyping with this method is at least 10 times faster than soldering plus it's way easier to rework or add to the circuitry.
 
  • #4
Dan King said:
No picture but they look just like a normal proto board with a bunch of holes on a .1" grid. These just have all the holes stuffed with pins that double as sockets for parts and insulation displacement contacts for wiring. I would estimate prototyping with this method is at least 10 times faster than soldering plus it's way easier to rework or add to the circuitry.

What wire gages does the IDC connector take, and how many high can you stack wires in it? Do you know how much these proto boards go for?
 
  • #5
Search eBay and Radioshack for "breadboard socket"

Bob S
 
  • #6
You want Vectorboard. Go to digi-key.com and enter that into the search box. They take credit card orders over the phone or web.

Not sure about the IDC backside. Check the vectorboard site directly.
 
  • #7
Yeah, the IDC backside is the unusual part of this. I've never seen it, and I use lots of different prototyping boards.

I'm not sure I'd use it necessarily, since most of my prototyping is mixed signal, and requires very good groudning. So I'm partial to ground plane vector borad and hand soldering.
 
  • #8
If I remember right the wire gauge was 26. You could stack three wires easy, four was pushing it. I'm working in a very dynamic development lab and quick changes are necessary. I can do the soldering stuff but I would rather be able to do things quickly. We have ever-changing valves (hydraulic and pneumatic) to control, depending on availibility.

I've already looked on EBAY and at the VectroBoards I just don't have the bandwidth to deal with engineering a control system, designing a circuit board, programming the microprocessors, not to mention the parts-procurrment headaches.

Regarding the proto boards I am looking for and the mixed signal thing:
The boards were four layer and had inner power and ground planes and worked great.

Maybe I should just find some pins that would work for me and lay out a board to do what I want...Or maybe I'll just keep on soldering.

On a side note: How do you feel about split ground and power planes for analog and digital? I've always been a proponent of them but I see the arguments against. Currently I'm using ferrite beads to couple the planes. What do you think?
 
  • #9
Oh yeah, they cost about $45 back in the day.
 
  • #10
Dan King said:
If I remember right the wire gauge was 26. You could stack three wires easy, four was pushing it. I'm working in a very dynamic development lab and quick changes are necessary. I can do the soldering stuff but I would rather be able to do things quickly. We have ever-changing valves (hydraulic and pneumatic) to control, depending on availibility.

I've already looked on EBAY and at the VectroBoards I just don't have the bandwidth to deal with engineering a control system, designing a circuit board, programming the microprocessors, not to mention the parts-procurrment headaches.

Regarding the proto boards I am looking for and the mixed signal thing:
The boards were four layer and had inner power and ground planes and worked great.

Maybe I should just find some pins that would work for me and lay out a board to do what I want...Or maybe I'll just keep on soldering.

On a side note: How do you feel about split ground and power planes for analog and digital? I've always been a proponent of them but I see the arguments against. Currently I'm using ferrite beads to couple the planes. What do you think?

The most important layout/floorplan technique that I've found is to use a star ground, with the power supply and any IO in the middle, and the analog & digital sections separated about the center of the star ground. You don't want to share any ground impedance between the analog & digital sections of the board. You can try to use separated ground planes as well, but the physical separation on different sides of the center of the star ground has been much more effective for me. Especially if there is any RF on your mixed signal board.
 
  • #11
Is this what you're looking for?
I was thinking wire-wrap boards might be what you were using.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390115736401&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WVF%3F&GUID=e6a6a3721280a0aad3328702ff314187&itemid=390115736401&ff4=263602_263622"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
dlgoff said:
Is this what you're looking for?
I was thinking wire-wrap boards might be what you were using.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390115736401&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WVF%3F&GUID=e6a6a3721280a0aad3328702ff314187&itemid=390115736401&ff4=263602_263622"

I think the OP has seen a version that does not use WW, but instead uses IDC with WW wire. I haven't seen that, and I wonder if it uses some punch-down tool, or you just push it down into the IDC with pliers or something.

Still sounds expensive, but maybe pretty useful for quick stuff.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
Thanks Don,
I have used wire wrap before but have found the IDC thing more reliable. I might go for this though if what I want doesn't magically appear.

Regarding the tool for the IDC: I have used needle noses to attach the wires in a pinch, but there was a tool specifically designed for the task that worked very well. There was an audible and physical snap when you made a good connection.

Thanks and Best Regards,
Dan
 
  • #14
Regarding the star ground thing: I currently have a 3.3V power supply (the good old LM317) in the center of the board with 220 ohm ferrite beads for coupling from the analog to digital. It works pretty well but I am getting a bit of noise from the analog outputs PWM and drawing about 1.6 Amps for each valve. We are now using four hydraulic valves as well as two pneumatic ones. The current is coming from the battery of the vehicle but the noise is coming from the PWM signal. Maybe not a big deal but I'm worried about the noise on the controls wearing out the valves on the hydraulics. That's why I'm looking for that proto board. Something I can experemint with quickly and get into production.
Thanks again for your help and Best Regards,
Dan
 

1. What is a proto board?

A proto board, short for prototype board, is a type of electronic circuit board used for building and testing electronic circuits. It typically has a grid of holes for inserting and connecting electronic components.

2. How is a proto board different from a breadboard?

A proto board is typically used for more permanent circuit designs, while a breadboard is used for temporary testing and prototyping. Proto boards also often have pre-made copper traces for easier circuit connections.

3. What should I consider when choosing a proto board?

Some factors to consider include the size and shape of the board, the number and spacing of the holes, and whether it has pre-made copper traces or not. You should also consider the type of components you will be using and make sure they can fit onto the board.

4. Can I solder components onto a proto board?

Yes, you can solder components onto a proto board. In fact, many proto boards are designed with soldering in mind and have pads or through-holes for easy soldering of components.

5. Are there different types of proto boards available?

Yes, there are several types of proto boards available, including stripboard, perfboard, and vector board. Each type has different layouts and features, so it's important to choose the right one for your specific needs.

Similar threads

How are these prototype boards used?
    • Electrical Engineering
Replies
24
Views
7K
Why are perforated PCBs preferred to striped PCBs?
    • Electrical Engineering
Replies
4
Views
879
Where Can I Find a 7-Position Rotating Cylinder Switch for My Prototype Device?
    • Electrical Engineering
Replies
7
Views
1K
Is There a 15 OP Amp Chip for PCB Design and Where Can I Find It?
    • Electrical Engineering
Replies
10
Views
2K
Understanding my crystal oscillator
    • Electrical Engineering
Replies
13
Views
3K
I Where can I find publicly accessible data from observatories in Europe?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
5
Views
924
I could really use some help picking my optional module [GameDev]
    • STEM Academic Advising
Replies
2
Views
863
How can I find a cylinder and seal with minimal friction for my prototype?
    • General Engineering
Replies
21
Views
6K
Where Can I Find Diodes for Line-Shaped Beams in Soft X-Ray Experiments?
    • Optics
Replies
3
Views
2K
Boeing Where can I find a 3D drawing of the Boeing 747 landing gear?
    • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
8
Views
15K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top