Proto-/breadboard eye candy

[ledtester]

Just browse through this guy's Youtube Shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/@albinjd/shorts

He builds circuits - lots of them - with the most insane meticulous wiring!

[jpanhalt]

This is my third attempt to post.  The other two attempts disappeared and could not be recovered.  Adding that facility to works in progress, as many sites do, would be great.

I try to make my boards neat but am not as compulsive.  In the 2 videos I saw, he did not solder the wires.  Fully populating a board like that before soldering could make soldering challenging.  Also, if he is using PVC insulation, there might be melt back and charring.

My process is similar with two additions:

1) I use Kynar insulated 24 awg wire.  It does not melt back or char like PVC can.  You can make a solder joint right under or next to a wire without affecting it.

2) I do not usually measure against the board.  I do a layout in Eagle and print with a 0.1" grid.  The boards are also numbered.   It is then easy to calculate or count the number of squares to get length and bend points.  I use a 6" machinist rule taped to my bench, lay the wire against it, mark with a fine tipped Sharpie, strip, bend, insert, and solder as appropriate.  Later cleaning flux removes any Sharpie marks.

The first attachment is a TC board I made that used plug in modules.  The 2nd and 3rd are top and bottom views of a board made to fit a particular display enclosure.  The appendage is for connection to the display and keyboard of that enclosure.

Edit: Changed machinist square to machinist rule.  Don't know why I wrote square.

[tooki]

Just browse through this guy's Youtube Shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/@albinjd/shorts

He builds circuits - lots of them - with the most insane meticulous wiring!

I’m a bit skeptical — we never see finished circuits, so is he ever even soldering them or are they just wire artwork?

But what I find frustrating is that he only shows video after video of inserting the wires. Inserting wires is not a particularly challenging or impressive feat. What I’d like to see is his process for forming the wires. That’s the part I always struggle to get neat, never mind flawless like his. Especially with multiple bends with very little distance between them, it’s so easy to end up with squeezed insulation due to needing to grip a tiny area with fine pliers. Is there some process I’ve missed?

[RoGeorge]

OCD vs ADD 

[tggzzz]

Just browse through this guy's Youtube Shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/@albinjd/shorts

He builds circuits - lots of them - with the most insane meticulous wiring!

I’m a bit skeptical — we never see finished circuits, so is he ever even soldering them or are they just wire artwork?

But what I find frustrating is that he only shows video after video of inserting the wires. Inserting wires is not a particularly challenging or impressive feat. What I’d like to see is his process for forming the wires. That’s the part I always struggle to get neat, never mind flawless like his. Especially with multiple bends with very little distance between them, it’s so easy to end up with squeezed insulation due to needing to grip a tiny area with fine pliers. Is there some process I’ve missed?

Don't forget the complete absence of decoupling caps and Vcc/Gnd connections. Then think about the crosstalk.

Don't think about his explantion of how capacitors work.

Do think of chocolate teapots, or most "design concepts" created by "creative designers".

The bloke is a good example of why I don't bother with yoootooob vids, unless I know in advance why they will benefit me.

[jpanhalt]

For real eye candy, see attachment.  That probably doesn't work either.

[tggzzz]

For real eye candy, see attachment.  That probably doesn't work either.

That's too negative. Better to say "that works as well" 

[magic]

For real eye candy, see attachment.  That probably doesn't work either.

The scary thought is that maybe it does. I would rather check before eating

[jpanhalt]

Especially with multiple bends with very little distance between them, it’s so easy to end up with squeezed insulation due to needing to grip a tiny area with fine pliers. Is there some process I’ve missed?

My work doesn't compare in artistic quality.  I do not use long nose pliers.  What I use is a very cheap pair (about $2.00 at a flea market) of smooth jaw "hemostats."  Current eBay is about $4.00 to $7.00.  The jaw length is about 1.5 cm (i.e., not a long hemostat).  The non-serrated jaw is what's important.  For stripping Kynar, I prefer my Jonard stripper.  Hold one end by the insulation, strip, then hold other end by the bare wire, and strip.  The smooth jawed holder does not damage Kynar insulation unless you latch it.  PVC may behave differently.  For the radius, with 24 awg, that has not been a problem with the hemostat (not latched).  If one were OCD, you might grind a small radius in the bottom jaw.

[langwadt]

Just browse through this guy's Youtube Shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/@albinjd/shorts

He builds circuits - lots of them - with the most insane meticulous wiring!

I’m a bit skeptical — we never see finished circuits, so is he ever even soldering them or are they just wire artwork?

But what I find frustrating is that he only shows video after video of inserting the wires. Inserting wires is not a particularly challenging or impressive feat. What I’d like to see is his process for forming the wires. That’s the part I always struggle to get neat, never mind flawless like his. Especially with multiple bends with very little distance between them, it’s so easy to end up with squeezed insulation due to needing to grip a tiny area with fine pliers. Is there some process I’ve missed?

https://youtube.com/shorts/n50KCWhBu9k?si=45LzeThCMevY_FzN

[tooki]

Just browse through this guy's Youtube Shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/@albinjd/shorts

He builds circuits - lots of them - with the most insane meticulous wiring!

I’m a bit skeptical — we never see finished circuits, so is he ever even soldering them or are they just wire artwork?

But what I find frustrating is that he only shows video after video of inserting the wires. Inserting wires is not a particularly challenging or impressive feat. What I’d like to see is his process for forming the wires. That’s the part I always struggle to get neat, never mind flawless like his. Especially with multiple bends with very little distance between them, it’s so easy to end up with squeezed insulation due to needing to grip a tiny area with fine pliers. Is there some process I’ve missed?

https://youtube.com/shorts/n50KCWhBu9k?si=45LzeThCMevY_FzN

What he shows in that short is no different from what I’ve done in the past. But it doesn’t show the thing I mentioned specifically: multiple bends with very little distance between them.

In his videos he shows wires with extremely close bends, much closer than in the “how to” video.

[jpanhalt]

You can buy or make Z-bend pliers. That's the search term.  It's comparable to die forming.  They are common for working with music wire.  However, copper work hardens nicely, and I have never had a problem making a Z-bend with short segments. I don't find a need to do that very often for typical sloppy but functional work.

[RoGeorge]

Bending pliers?!   Neah.



 

[schmitt trigger]

For real eye candy, see attachment.  That probably doesn't work either.

I have read that milk-sugar-chocolate batteries have a very high energy content.

[tggzzz]

For real eye candy, see attachment.  That probably doesn't work either.

I have read that milk-sugar-chocolate batteries have a very high energy content.

Maybe, but you have to add sulphuric acid to visibly liberate the energy in a reasonable time.