
“Dead bug style” circuit wiring is the cute name for soldering together components without a printed circuit board. The “dead bug” is the integrated circuit flipped upside down with its “legs” sticking up.
Over at the Dangerous Prototypes forum, a maker shows off his dead bug skills, which he used to solder a Little Wire:
My level of boredom was not enough to actually etch a PCB for it so I did a freeform version of it. With a fine tip on the soldering iron, 0.4 mm solder, a stereo microscope and a hour or two of soldering and bending wires even an old fart like me can get the parts together without a PCB.
(A Little Wire is a USBtiny compatible AVR programmer.)


This style of circuit building is also known as “ugly construction,” but that name certainly wouldn’t apply here. Excellent work.
I have a bunch of SMD Attiny85s that I can’t figure out how to program. This is very impressive.
While the style certainly looks neat, never underestimate the utility of a ground plane. (Something I’ve learned the hard way with op-amps suddenly oscillating out of control without one.)
err.. plain. Sorry, it’s late, spelling goes to heck.
ack. had it right the first time, and no way to delete my ‘correction’?
Doesn’t matter, we still love you.
Pingback: Dead bugs | Digital Fanatics
Pingback: MAKE | Insects Twisted Together from Electronic Components
Pingback: Insects Twisted Together from Electronic Components
// What's Trending
Raspberry Pi Design Contest
Seventeen Sneaky Secret Hides
Ten Tips for Screws and Screwdrivers
10 Things to Connect to Your Raspberry Pi
I Have a (Puzzling) Dream
Sneak Preview: The Wheeled Wonders of Maker Faire
The Oreo Separator Man at Maker Faire
Tribute to Kathreen Ricketson, Founder of Whipup.net
// What's Shared
A better way to slice a pumpkin
DIY Nerf Darts
In the Maker Shed: Minty Boost USB Charger
100 Dollar Store Organization Ideas for Craft Rooms and Beyond
Mad’s Mouse House
Lace Princess Crowns
I Have a (Puzzling) Dream
Play the Rings of a Tree Trunk Like a Record
// Most Commented
DIY Hacks & How To’s: Get Emergency Power from a Phone Line
Resin Casting: Going from CAD to Engineering-Grade Plastic Parts
Ten Tips for Screws and Screwdrivers
Ten Tips for Better Measurement
Makers on TV: Big Brain Theory
Pitches with Prototypes: Solar Tracker
Tool Review: BioLite CampStove
Grow: A Portable CNC Router System
Trending Topics
Get our Newsletters
About Maker Media
Subscribe
to MAKE!
Get the print and digital versions when you subscribe