Engineering:Speedwire
Speedwire is a solderless prototyping system manufactured by BICC-Vero for constructing electronic circuit boards.[1] The system is based on a circuit board pre-drilled with holes in a regular 0.1-inch (2.54 mm) square grid. The boards are available in standard sizes such as Eurocard modules. Some of the holes are through-plated and interconnected with copper strips to form power and ground rails.
Special terminals are provided, which are inserted, using a special tool, into the holes in the prototyping board where components are to be fitted. Some boards are also available pre-populated with terminals. Each terminal is a metal tube with a component socket at one end and an insulation-displacement fork at the other. The component socket accepts a wire lead, such as the lead of a resistor or capacitor, or the leg of a 0.1-inch-pitch DIL package. The insulation-displacement fork accepts an insulated wire specially manufactured for the Speedwire system. The wire is pressed between the forks using a special tool. The forks cut through the insulation and grip the wire, making a gas-tight contact. The wire can then be cut off, or continued to another terminal. Wires can be pulled out of terminals and re-routed.
References
- ↑ Rambold, W.N. and Stilburn, J.R., An Intensified Television System for Telescope Guiding, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, Canada, 1987, accessed 2010-04-27
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