Raspberry Pi A User Manual page 228

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Figure 13-3:
The copper
tracks on the
underside of a
piece of
stripboard
Stripboard is extremely easy to use, which makes it a great stepping-stone to custom circuit
board design and manufacturing. However, you should be aware of the following before you
buy stripboard:
P A R T I V
There are different types of stripboard. Some stripboards have copper tracks on the
❍
underside, which go all the way across a row or down a column, while other stripboards
are split into two separate rows with a gap in the middle like a breadboard. Yet another
type of stripboard, often called a project board, has no copper tracks at all and requires
the use of wires to join components together electrically.
❍ Stripboard can be made in different thicknesses and with different materials, and one
type of stripboard may be more suited to a particular project than another. For exam-
ple, a heatproof stripboard is good for a circuit that is going to be in a high-tempera-
ture environment, while thicker stripboard should be used for circuits that may be
exposed to rough handling.
To make the component layout on a stripboard neater, it's possible to break the tracks
❍
on the underside to separate components electrically. This avoids wasted board space
and is an absolute necessity in more complex circuits—but to achieve the neatest
results, you'll need a small hand-held tool called a track cutter. Remember to add that to
your shopping list if you're planning on using stripboard, although a small drill bit can
also be used.
H A R D W A R E H A C K I N G