Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!light!bvs From: bvs@light.uucp (Bakul Shah) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Help me equip myself for wire-wrap! Message-ID: <1991Mar3.231219.16474@light.uucp> Date: 3 Mar 91 23:12:18 GMT References: <1991Feb26.235009.1389@cbnewsj.att.com> <5825@optilink.UUCP> <1991Feb28.233858.2360@cbnewsj.att.com> Reply-To: bvs@light.UUCP (Bakul Shah) Distribution: na Organization: Bit Blocks, Inc. Lines: 133 asd@cbnewsj.att.com (Adam S. Denton) writes: > ... >I am starting from scratch, and am looking to find out: > - which tools out there are good, and which aren't (I have heard to > avoid the Just-Wrap, for example) > - sources for those good wire-wrap tools > - good sources for wire-wrap wire > - Do people prefer bulk or pre-stripped wire? > - Do people prefer the power wrappers or wrapping by hand? > - How many different colors of wire do I need to "stock"? > - Are there any opinions on what the best (or reasonably good) of > the hand tools (strip, cut, wrap, unwrap) and the best power > tools (ditto) are, and where to get them? > - how about those accessories like pins, WW IC sockets, etc.? > >I don't mind the cost of quality; I intend to be wire-wrapping for many >years to come, so I'd rather get *good* tools rather than *cheap* tools, >if there is a distinction. Having just gone through this process here is my 40 Paisa's worth (at the official rate). Currently I have a friend's OK Industries WW tool and bought, on a trial basis, an R3 series Wire-Wrap brand tool (made by Cooper Tools. I believe these used to be sold under the Gardner-Denver name). These are somewhat comparable in price, both are power tools, and I am using 30 gauge cut-strip-wrap bit+sleeve with each. I am buidling two different ckt boards, and since I wanted to compare the two tools, I used the R3 for one ckt and the OKI on the other. I think I will end up buying th R3 tool for a number of reasons. It is lighter, has a much better ergonomic design and is very comfortable to use, easier to thread a wire, looks nicer, has rechargeable batteries and can supposedly do 1100 wraps per charge (the OKI runs off of 110V), can be used for wrapping as well as unwrapping, seems to be more reliable etc. The wire broke frequently on the OKI but not on the R3. Now admitedly, this is a very incomplete comparison, some things may be peculiar to the units I used (i.e. not a class property) so you should make your own comparison if you can. I found that many more stores carry the OKI tools and if you do find Wire-Wrap brand tools, they are usually more expensive. Fry's Electronics, here in Sillyvalley, sold me the R3 tool for about $180 (even though the price sticker on it was for $199.95!). They didn't have the CSW bit/sleeve or the CSW wire, which I got from Com-Kyl -- call up Cooper tools for a dealer name in your area. The few, commonly known, stores that I tried were way more expensive, so do call around. Try to get tools on a trial basis so that if you don't like them after some use you can return them. Pre-stripped wire is much more expensive so I don't use it. Stripping by hand takes some time and stripping real short wire is a pain. I prefer CSW bits for faster work but they are much more expensive than the normal ones (about three times). One other thing to consider is whether to by a tool with backforce or none (an internal spring that let the bit push back upto a point without your having to gently move the tool back). Some people prefer backforce device, I don't even though I am just a beginner. If you buy a normal bit (not CSW), get the `modified wrap' bit -- it wraps a some insulated wire as well for better withstanding of vibrations. As for number of colors to stock, I'd like some ideas for more experienced people. I use a small number of colors, one for each logical group of signals (such as data bus, control signals, VCC, ground and so on). The R3 can be used for unwrapping as well, by switching the battery connection but I just use a hand tool for that. That will change if ever I make massive mistakes! 30 guage wire works for most everything but I'd like to know what people use for VCC and ground. Do they wire-wrap with a thicker guage or solder? Also what about decoupling caps? I am using inline caps (like so: ------O-----) and solder one between vcc and gnd directly on a socket *before* inserting it in the board. But there must be a better way. (You can get sockets with caps already attached but I didn't find them in all sizes and they were expensive). As for sockets I don't know which ones are the best or what are the best / cheapest sources for them but would like to find out! Packs for two/three sockets are expensive so buy the largest size packets you are likely to use. I'd also like to know of inexpensive sources for the socket ID tags, perf board and such. Let me also say I'd rather directly go to printed circuit boards if at all possible; that is what I usually do. If you are reasonably careful in designing, using CAD tools, have access to simulators (atleast for checking out PAL logic), can afford one or two rounds of PCB making + circuit layout and want more than a couple of copies, PCBs are the way to go. Whenever possible I put control signals I may want to change in PALs and leave some free space and IO pins in each PAL so that most changes do not require any major ripping up. So... does anyone know of PCB houses that will make a small number of two/four/six layer PCBs inexpensively? Does anyone know of people who will do circuit layout for a reasonable price? Hope this was useful. I also hope people with much more experience than I will give us the benefit of their experience. I'd like to see even more discussions of practical aspects of circuit design, fabrication, routing, rules of thumb, sources of components & tools, services available, new techniques and technologies and new, interesting components etc. etc. It would also be nice if that sort of information can be organized, compiled and posted occasionally. If I weren't so busy *and* disorganized I'd volunteer :-( Sorry about going on and on. -- Bakul Shah bvs@BitBlocks.COM ..!{ames,apple,decwrl,pyramid,sun,uunet}!amdcad!light!bvs PS: Here are some useful numbers. Cooper Tools: 919 362 7510, FAX: 800 423 6175 Tool: R3 27600AD8 -- standard, 110V (for the battery charger) R3 27610AD7 -- backforce, 110V R3 27650AD3 -- standard, 220V R3 27600AD2 -- backforce, 220V 30 guage CSW Bit: 990764 30 guage CSW sleeve: 990765 42 I can't find the OKI catalog right now.