9 Questions
What is wire wrap?
A technique to assemble electronic components using insulated wire
When was wire wrap construction popular in circuit board manufacturing?
Around 1960
What is the advantage of wire wrap construction over printed circuits?
More reliable connections
What is the disadvantage of wire wrap construction for analog systems?
Cross-talk between circuits
What is cold welding in wire wrap construction?
The wire is welded to the terminal post at the corners
What is the purpose of a wire wrap tool?
To wrap insulated wire around a component lead or socket pin
What is the main reason for the decline in the use of wire wrap construction?
The advent of surface-mount technology
What kind of circuits work well with wire wrap?
Digital circuits with few discrete components
What is the purpose of automated wire-wrap machines?
To route, cut, strip, and wrap wires onto an electronic "backplane" or "circuit board"
Study Notes
Wire Wrap Technique for Electronic Component Wiring
- Wire wrap is an electronic component assembly technique invented to wire telephone crossbar switches and later used for electronic circuit boards.
- The method involves interconnecting electronic components mounted on an insulating board using lengths of insulated wire wrapped around a component lead or socket pin.
- Wire wrapping can be done by hand or machine, and it allows for complex assemblies to be produced by automated equipment, yet easily repaired or modified by hand.
- Wire wrap construction produces assemblies that are more reliable than printed circuits, with connections less prone to fail due to vibration or physical stress on the base board.
- Connections in wire wrap construction are firmer and have lower electrical resistance due to cold welding of the wire to the terminal post at the corners.
- Wire wrap was used for assembly of high-frequency prototypes and small production runs, including gigahertz microwave circuits and supercomputers.
- Wire wrap construction became popular around 1960 in circuit board manufacturing, but its use has sharply declined due to the advent of surface-mount technology and the decreasing cost of professionally made PCBs.
- The modern wire wrapping technology was developed after WWII at Bell Laboratories as a means of making electrical connections in a new relay being designed for use in the Bell Telephone system.
- A "wire wrap tool" has two holes, with one for the wire and 1⁄4 in (6.4 mm) of insulated wire, and the other placed over the post for wrapping the wire.
- Automated wire-wrap machines, as manufactured by the Gardner Denver Company in the 1960s and 1970s, were capable of automatically routing, cutting, stripping, and wrapping wires onto an electronic "backplane" or "circuit board."
- Wire-wrap works well with digital circuits with few discrete components, but is less convenient for analog systems with many discrete resistors, capacitors, or other components.
- Multiple strands of wire may introduce cross-talk between circuits, of little consequence for digital circuits but a limitation for analog systems.
Test your knowledge of the wire wrap technique for electronic component wiring with this informative quiz! Learn about the history, benefits, and limitations of wire wrapping, as well as the tools and machines used to implement this assembly method. Challenge yourself with questions on topics such as cold welding, resistance, and cross-talk, and gain a deeper understanding of when and why wire wrapping is a preferred choice for electronic circuit board assembly. Perfect for hobbyists, engineers, and anyone interested in the fascinating world of electronics!
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