Identification

[J4e8a16n]

Hi,

This is a curve tracer from here
http://www.thaikits.com/index.php/measurement-testing-checker/ch012-transistor-curve-tracer-adapter-xy-oscilloscopes-2-ranges-biasOnline%20Electronic%20Kit%20Store.html

What are the pieces (all the same)   indicated by the arrows?


JPD

[vasi_ro]

It's a zero ohm resistor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-ohm_link

[elgonzo]

0 Ohm (zero Ohm) resistors. Kind of a fancy wire jumper...
(Used in small to medium scale production, when the assembler does not want/can't handle normal wire jumpers.)

[SeanB]

Made so you can use an auto insertion machine to put them in.

[elgonzo]

Made so you can use an auto insertion machine to put them in.

Auto insertion machines can also handle wire jumpers. (Otherwise you would not see this jungle of wire jumpers on many of these cheap single sided boards found in PSU modules and consumer AV gear...)
For auto-placing wire jumpers, the assembler would need to dedicate either a head of a multi-head inserter or a separate inserter for this task. For small to medium size runs, the economics can be in favor of using 0 Ohm resistors (which are more expensive than simple wire jumpers) compared to the cost of setting up and operating a dedicated inserter for jumper wires...

[J4e8a16n]

 

Thank you!

[SeanB]

I have seen a few copier boards where the number of jumpers is around 5 times the number of electronic components on the board. Literally 20 connectors, 40 capacitors, resistors and diodes and around 300 numbered jumpers, all in one of 4 lengths. They would even have 5 different jumpers joining one pin of one connector to the other next to it, just running across the board. All this so they could use a wave solderable SRBP single sided board with additive copper plating ( the dozens of punched holes with thin traces leading to them) to cut cost to the bone.

Another trend is to use a double sided SRBP board, made by laminating 2 separate boards together, then punching the through holes in it, then using a conductive paste to join the vias together, followed by a protective tenting over these joins. 100mA power conductors need around 5 vias together to get the voltage drop down.