Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site cygnet.CYGNETSYSTEMS
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!pesnta!hplabs!cygnet!bob
From: bob@cygnet.CYGNETSYSTEMS (Bob Clark)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Building One-of-a-Kind Systems (Wire-wrap)
Message-ID: <536@cygnet.CYGNETSYSTEMS>
Date: Thu, 13-Jun-85 18:08:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: cygnet.536
Posted: Thu Jun 13 18:08:23 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Jun-85 06:24:41 EDT
References: <1700@bmcg.UUCP> <1587@hao.UUCP>
Reply-To: bob@cygnet.UUCP (Bob Clark)
Organization: Cygnet Systems -- Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 37
Summary: 

In article <1587@hao.UUCP> hull@hao.UUCP (Howard Hull) writes
regarding wire-wrap guns and cut,slit-n-wrap bits:
>I only wanted to warn
>the unaware that there are many, many, versions of earlier searches to this
>particular form of excellence, and you guys and gals (see, I do learn from
>the doings of others) better find out *exactly* which tool Larry is talking
>about.

I am in complete agreement with checking on other peoples' experience.  We
are using bits from RGB Electronics in Redwood City, CA.  The original bits
we tried from OK didn't work.  In addition, we use OK guns, both with and
without the spring loaded nose.  I believe that RGB only guarantees operation
with a specific type of wirewrap wire for these bits.  We take their word
for it.

Other opinions:
1. The bits ARE expensive (~$170), but well worth it.
2. We add on an OK option for the gun which has a wire cutter you can use
   with your trigger finger- you never have to put the gun down.
3. It's common to use two wire sizes: 26 AWG for power and ground ocnnections,
   30 AWG for everything else.  I'm not convinced this is important.
4. It's not that hard to do high frequency stuff with wirewrap.  Just be
   careful with your routing, daisy chain and terminate at the end of the
   transmission line.
5. I prefer a plug in gun- no batteries to screw around with, no agonizingly
   slow wraps as the battery goes dead.  Never used a hand wrapper, and don't
   intend to.
6. Buy a bunch of unwrap tools- they always get dull.  Or file them from time
   to time.
7. I want the board itself to have the best power and ground planes I can
   find.  We did some very high speed stuff on boards from ITI (Interconnection
   Technology Inc.) in LA.  These boards had internal power and ground
   planes.  Again, we're talking big bucks (several hundred $$$$).
8. Use a lot of decoupling caps, and a few electrolytics scattered around.

Good luck,
Bob Clark, Cygnet Systems   ...hplabs!cygnet!bob