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Dead bug VS Manhattan Style of PCB circuit making

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neazoi

neazoi

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I like the homebrew way and the flexibility of both techniques.

Manhattan: copper clad,PCB,metal shear,metal nibbler,metal punch,soldering iron,super glue
Dead bug: **broken link removed**

But the problem with Manhattan style is these little pads that separate the components from the PCB ground. They all act as capacitors which is not good for high frequencies.

The problem with dead bug is that it is not very mechanically stable as Manhattan.

I have found another homebrew technique in old books but I do not not know how this is called. It uses a double sided PCB which is better for RF too. Here is a picture. Do you know how this method is called?

http://www.microwave-museum.org/hirespics/mwm0018.jpg
Attached is a more clear picture
 

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While each of these methods has it's uses and charm, I prefer prototype boards such as these: BusBoard Prototype Systems-ProtoBoard, BreadBoard, StripBoard, PadBoard, SMT, PowerBoard, **broken link removed**, **broken link removed**.

If you want to do point to point wiring using copper clad board, you should get a pad cutter: **broken link removed**.

In your last example, it's all pad cuts and point to point wiring. It's very crude construction; the holes and pad cuts aren't even round. Clearly the builder was very motivated but had limited resources.
 
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    neazoi

    neazoi

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Pad cuts! that is a method I have never seen before, interesting!

I have found two good quality Proto boards which are double sided so my components will be mechanically stable. In my circuit I use many of these 250V MKP capacitors which are quite big and heavy compared to the tiny transistors...
The double sided proto board seems good but I am worrying about this "Ground plane" part that proto board lacks since the circuit is for RF use in shortwave...

In audio frequencies proto boards could be better as they allow for a single ground point (star ground topology) and at the same time the components are well held into holes that may not be connected to ground directly. But at RF isn't it better to have all the components above a croung plane?
 

It's possible to combine some of the advantages of prototype boards with stripline construction by careful placement of components and the use of shielding fences and boxes: **broken link removed**.
 
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    neazoi

    neazoi

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KJ6EAD said:
It's possible to combine some of the advantages of prototype boards with stripline construction by careful placement of components and the use of shielding fences and boxes: **broken link removed**.
Click to expand...

Yes,
Or a thought I had was to cut little pieces of PCB (better double sided) and solder them vertically to the proto board pins (the proto board is double sided) to form the shields. Then all these wall shields could be connected to ground.
The whole construction seems mechanically rigid and shielded. I think a suitable name for it could be "honeycomb". honeycombs were used in old transistorized spectrum analyzers like Tectronics 491.
What do you think of my idea?
 


Yes this is the construction I refer to. The only difference is that the bottom is not PCB like the walls. It is double sided proto board, to fit the components.
 

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