Editing Point-to-point construction (section)

== "Dead bug" construction ==
'''Free-form construction''' can be used in cases where a PCB would be too big or too much work to manufacture for a small number of components. Several methods of construction are used. At one extreme a [[Wiring pencil|wiring pen]] can be used with a perforated board, producing neat and professional results. At the other extreme is "'''dead bug'''" style, with the [[Integrated circuit|ICs]] flipped upside-down with their pins sticking up into the air like a dead insect, the leads of components are usually soldered directly to other components where possible, with many small circuits having no added wires. While it is messy-looking, free-form construction can be used to make more compact circuits than other methods. This is often used in [[BEAM robotics]] and in RF circuits where component leads must be kept short. This form of construction is used by amateurs for one-off circuits, and also professionally for circuit development, particularly at high frequencies.<ref name=an47/>

For high-frequency work, a grounded solderable metallic base such as the copper side of an unetched printed circuit board can be used as base and ground plane. Information on high-frequency breadboarding and illustrations of dead bug with ground plane construction are in a Linear Technologies application note.<ref name=an47>{{cite web|url=http://www.linear.com/docs/4138|date=August 1991|author=Linear Technology|author-link=Linear Technology|title=Application Note 47: High Speed Amplifier Techniques|access-date=2016-02-14|format=pdf}}, describes and illustrates dead-bug breadboards with ground plane, and other prototyping techniques. Illustrated in Figures F1 to F24, from p.AN47-98. Information on breadboarding on pages AN47-26 to AN47-29.</ref>