Boards with Tie Points: fast prototyping close to home
Find the right tie-point and perfboard options in Johannesburg without long lead times. Whether you're a university lab wiring up student projects, a maker building a one-off robot controller, or a technician repairing a control board, local availability saves time and keeps deadlines on track. Communica stocks a broad selection of perfboards, stripboards (vero), and solderable tie-point matrices across practical sizes and hole pitches.
Why local stock matters for Johannesburg projects
Ordering components from overseas can add days or weeks to a build. Choosing a supplier with branches and warehouse pickup options in Gauteng reduces downtime: collect your board from Samrand or the Pretoria branch, get VAT invoices for procurement, and source matching accessories the same day. See branch times and collection options at Branches & Trading Hours.
Common board types and when to choose them
Practical choice depends on permanence, density, and assembly method. Use the table below to match board type to the typical use-case.
| Board Type | Best for | Assembly |
|---|---|---|
| Perfboard (tie-point) | Quick layouts, mixed through-hole and small SMD adaptors | Solder each tie point individually |
| Stripboard (vero) | Dense through-hole circuits with common buses | Solder along copper strips; cut traces where needed |
| Custom prototype PCB | High-reliability, repeatable products | Order fabricated boards (longer lead times) |
Specification callouts to check before buying
When selecting boards, confirm: hole pitch (usually 2.54 mm), copper thickness (oz), board thickness, and whether holes are plated-through. Those details determine component fit and thermal behaviour during soldering. For connectors, check pin spacing against header specs found in our collections: Shop by Category.
Quick wiring pattern examples
Here are two typical tie-point layouts shown in ASCII to help plan your first solder session.
Perfboard (grid of tie points): +--+--+--+--+ |o |o |o |o | +--+--+--+--+ |o |o |o |o | +--+--+--+--+ Stripboard (vertical copper tracks): [track]o o o o o [track]o o o o o
These patterns help you visualise how to run power rails, group decoupling caps near ICs, and plan track cuts on vero board. Need component matchups? Browse brands and header options at Shop by Brand.
