LPKF EasyContac test
I used a BusPirate V3 board to test out these rivets. They are effectively thru-plating for PCB’s, normally you need to do messy multistage chemical stuff to do it at home. This isn’t as good a result as a chemical plate but it makes up for it in ease of use. It’s not the cheapest option, which is usually just using a bit of wire in the hole and hand soldered in, but that can cause problems with VIA’s under flush mounted components.
Basically you put a rivet in the hole, flip it over and hit with an automatic center punch.
LPKF Store
http://www.lpkfusa.com/store/pages/list.aspx?cat=10/31&cid=31
BusPirate Dangerous Prototypes ( Buy one of them at http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/preorder3-bus-pirate-v3-assembled-p-579.html and support the effort Ian is making )
http://whereisian.com/forum/index.php?board=4.0
Here are some of the results so far. I didn’t spend as much time as i ought to have aligning the backside of the board, so the drills are slightly off.
TopSide
Bottom side, they take up less space on the side that’s being compressed.
I used a needle to insert them one a time, a wire strung with a bunch might work.
A few more added.
Takes a little practice to get them smooth, making the automatic center punch ‘snap’ is key. They’re almost flush when that happens. (circuit in the back is Jack Gassett’s butterfly (the logic analyser update for the sump) http://blog.gadgetfactory.net/ )
some closeups with the HiView wireless usb microscope, because of the way it works you see black rings where there is really copper if its an angle.
This one went funky, needs some after attention, I didn’t put the center of the punch in the rivet !
trying out different pressure settings on the punch
charliex, 
Mikael, and 2 others are discussing. 
LPKF EasyContac rivets for vias « Dangerous Prototypes 8:54 am on January 10, 2010 Permalink |
[...] to fit the rivets, and suggests going even bigger if possible. There’s more discussion on Charlie’s blog and at CNC [...]
ericwertz 5:22 am on January 12, 2010 Permalink |
So these guys work solely via (pun intended) their mechanical connection to the clad?
charliex 6:07 am on January 12, 2010 Permalink |
yep, but given the pressure involved they’re not going anywhere. Plus you can make the via pads bigger and solder them too. they practically fuse.
Mikael 12:48 pm on November 22, 2011 Permalink |
Nice things but INSANELY expensive in sweden. Kit with ~4000 rivets and tool is almost $1000. (yes $1000!!)
charliex 5:45 pm on November 22, 2011 Permalink |
they’re pretty expensive here too.
Paul Wanamaker 8:36 am on March 16, 2012 Permalink
You can easily make copper via rivets yourself, and it’s not expensive, and they are easy to place. I wrote an article about this on paulwanamaker.wordpress.com
charliex 6:16 am on March 17, 2012 Permalink
it looks like you’re using solid core wire and the soldering them in, that works for a lot of stuff but the problem is if you do any reflow they typically fall out again the rivets mechanically make a joint so you’re not worried about that. but we use the wires too when we dont need that,
cheers