Prototype Construction

Surface Mount Devices

Device Programmers@, BreadBoards@, Tools@,PCBs@ Fiber optics

Vacuforming@, Laser Cutters

Making Plated through holes

"Manhattan" style construction works well for surface mount and involves using bits of PCB to form islands and channels between components.

"Dead Bug" construction involves just glueing the chips or other components up-side-down to some hard surface and then soldering to the pins. Examples: 1

See also:

• http://www.onepasinc.com/bonnie/smt/CIRCUIT2.jpg How SMT parts can be prototyped on a standard DIP PCB layout.
• http://www.onepasinc.com/bonnie/Circuits.html Maybe there is a PCB pattern that any circuit can be laid out on? What if there was an autorouter that actually only placed components on a pre-fabricated PCB?
• /techref/pcbixmax.htm
• http://engr-www.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/proto.html Electronic Prototyping: Tips and Pitfalls
• http://members.stratos.net/lawrencemazza/98/3/smd.htm Practical Surface Mount - ideas on mounting standard components using surface mount methods
• http://www.expresspcb.com
• http://www.apcircuits.com
• http://www.national.com/apnotes/apnotes_all_1.html "AN643 - EMI/RFI Board Design"
• http://www.fairchildsemi.com/apnotes/ap_notes_all.html "AN-389: Follow PCB Design Guidelines For Lowest CMOS EMI Radiation"

Interested:

See:

• Low Volumn Construction

Maximum connection options in the minimum board space.