VERO-WIRE

DISADVANTAGES

These are mostly emotional.

A lot of people, even technical people, do not believe it will work. There is something that they do not like. There is no attempt to evaluate the system or inspect the finished product. I have thought about this reaction and even concluded that it may be that they simply do not like me and anything I suggest as being 'good' must be dismissed. While you may think this is extreme I cannot find any other reason to justify the instant dismissal of my work and the prototyping system.

It may be that they recognise that some skill is required in the process. The Vero representative said that a later - no skill - prototyping system using a very expensive, special, board and wire wrap wire was selling like hot cakes while there was little interest in Vero-Wire. This same representative, upon inspecting a completed, working, vero-wire board said that he had only met a few people who could use the system to that standard.

I have seen people attempt to use Vero-Wire without the combs; the combs are utterly essential to the process and they must be glued down. Without the combs it is just a 'dogs dinner'.

Two comments that are worth looking at:

1) There will be cross-talk between the wires.

Yes, that is correct. If two wires are laid side by side they will 'see' each other. Is this not always the case? Any two wires laid side by side would do the same thing; why should this wire be any different? If you are making an analogue circuit then care with layout is essential. This is normal. If you are building a digital circuit there may be cross talk but it will not be any bother and I have never seen it on a scope. Examine any modern circuit board and see how close the tracks are. If you require absolute top speed then proper termination, minimum track runs, earth plane, etc, are required.

High Speed C-MOS circuit boards have been successfully created using Vero-Wire with no special precautions other than the usual decoupling of ICs. In the wiring process turns are made around the posts of the combs. These turns create very small inductancies in the wire runs - one at each end - which help to dampen any high speed ringing.

2) The wire cannot carry much current.

Yes, that is correct. The wire is 40 gauge, solderable enamel, copper wire. What gauge is the wire that is used to connect the 'chip' inside an IC package to its legs? The wire only carries digital signals so there is very little current. One of the features of High Speed C-MOS is the tiny amount of current required to operate. The main current carrying wires are the power supply tracks on the Double Density circuit board.

Do not assume electricians, or other electronic staff, can use this system. I have found that many electricians who are requested to manufacture equipment with Vero-Wire do not like the system. It demands great attention while wiring and soldering. Good manual dexterity is also required plus good, close up, eyesight. An artistic temperament is useful. I have always enjoyed using this system to create circuit boards as I find it quick and reasonably easy. I cannot be alone in this.

ADVANTAGES

Low cost circuit boards completed in a few hours depending upon complexity. The Vero-Wire pen, wire reels, combs, tweezers and scalpel are all low cost items. Vero double density boards produce the best results.

The finished circuit boards can be used for the real job. The wire is protected by the combs and survives physical abuse reasonably well. Boards can be cleaned in usual cleaning baths. If no modification is required the board can be sprayed with a coating.

Small production runs are quite feasible with no setup fees. Only the time to design the board layout and create the flow chart from the circuit diagram.

All items are available from Vero Ltd in the UK.

The Small Print

These pages, devoted to Vero-Wire, have been created due to enthusiasm for the system.

Our engineer is available to teach you how to use Vero-Wire including his own wiring chart method. This would be done at your premises provided you first purchase the materials to teach with. We do not sell them.

Our engineer will make a circuit board for you provided you are willing to supply a circuit diagram for evaluation plus the components when required. Strict confidence is observed with this work. The cost of the first board will include the component layout and the wiring chart. Both of these items would be supplied with the completed board. Repeat boards would be cheaper. Remember you cannot get a quart into a pint pot.

John Hardaker, our engineer, has been advised by a Vero representative
that his work with this system is to 'commercial standards'.

More information from MUSATEK

I am advised that RS Components have bought the company that sold Vero-Wire and are not going to continue to supply due to lack of demand.