Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
What is a PCB?
The clue is in the title! Printed Circuit Board, it’s a circuit board, that has been printed using one of a number of methods… But what purpose do they serve?
Trusted online knowledge database ‘EHow‘ says -
“In the early days of electronics, when vacuum tubes were king, all of the various components that made up an electronic device were connected together by soldering them either to each other or to terminal strips and tube sockets. Today, printed circuit boards have made connecting components simpler and cheaper.”
Followed by a short list of places you can find PCBs in everday life -
“Today, just about every electronic appliance in your home contains a printed circuit board of some type: computers, printers, televisions, stereos, musical instrument amplifiers and synthesizers, digital clocks, microwave ovens, telephone answering machines and even cell phones.”
That list is entirely expected considering PCBs are primarily circuitry. But what if i was to say to you that you could play instruments with PCBs?
“Oh an electronic keyboard” you would correctly assume… But how about a guitar?
“Oh, i see electric guitars use PCBs”… You would be right, they would be used in the guitar and the amplifier…
But what about an acoustic guitar?
“How on earth could a PCB be involved?!” – I hear you ask.
Well, online store ‘Etsy‘ has helped expose a brilliant designer known as ‘The Blue Kraken‘, who has found a fantastic use for unused PCBs….
A well fashioned PCB guitar pick
The guitar picks come in a range of colours and styles
That’s how you can play an instrument with a PCB!
To continue… If i was to ask – “How can you look fashionable with PCBs?”
The Blue Kraken store has an answer for that too!
A lovely bronze PCB pendant
Well crafted earrings
Just to show how intricate ‘The Blue Kraken’s designs can get, we present these last two necklaces to show that PCBs are more than just circuits!
An intricate PCB necklace
PCB necklace with layered design
We hope you enjoyed our post on multi-purpose circuit boards, until next time…
The PCB Train Team