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Home made PCB

D

Dan Messenger

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi,
I've been making electronic circuits for a while, mostly using Vero
Board / Strip Board for final construction. I really wanna move on
and start making my own PCBs.
How expensive is the equipment for this? My boards will probably be
no bigger than a few inches square.
What is the cheapest way to get me started in this? Can anybody
recommend any UK suppliers of equipment? What equipment do I need?
-Messenga
 
It depends on the line density of the circuit board that you want to
make.

Small quantities of single-sided, low density circuit boards can be
produced for an investment as little as $20-30 (spray can of photo
resist, some ferric chloride etchant, and an improvised buble etcher).
Double sided PCBs without through-hole plating are not much harder or
costlier to produce, but if you want plated through holes, add another
$1,000 to the above figure.

If you wnat to do medium density PCB that have medium width tracings
connecting 16-pin DIP packages, estimate $1,000. (Everything becomes
more precise.)

For high-density PCBs involving SMDs, figure on $20,000 as a minimum.
(Mostly due to far more costly imaging technology).

Harry C. (Who was in the PCB business for 5 years.)
 
D

Dan Messenger

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Harry, Thanks for the reply.
The circuits I make are typical hobbiest circuits. All will probably
be one/two-off and definately single sided.
However, I do use DIP packaged chips (PICs / 555s / Driver chips etc)
Is the accuracy required for these possible on the lower budget? ;-)

Also, have you got any weblinks for the equipment/chemicals you have
described? (particularly the bubble etcher, I understand these are
expensive to buy?)

Thanks in advance
-Messenga

09/05/2005 00:32:30
[email protected] wrote in message
 
D

DaveM

Jan 1, 1970
0
Dan Messenger said:
Hi Harry, Thanks for the reply.
The circuits I make are typical hobbiest circuits. All will probably
be one/two-off and definately single sided.
However, I do use DIP packaged chips (PICs / 555s / Driver chips etc)
Is the accuracy required for these possible on the lower budget? ;-)

Also, have you got any weblinks for the equipment/chemicals you have
described? (particularly the bubble etcher, I understand these are
expensive to buy?)

Thanks in advance
-Messenga

09/05/2005 00:32:30
[email protected] wrote in message


Take a look at the Pulsar web site at http://www.pulsar.gs. They sell just
about everything you need for making single and double-sided PCBs on a
budget. Their technology uses a toner transfer method that works very well
if you use their equipment. If you have a laser printer (who doesn't
nowadays), you can print the artwork on special transfer paper, then affix
the paper with the printed circuit pattern to a blank board, and run it
through the refuser, which melts the toner on the paper onto the PCB
surface. You then soak the board and paper in water to dissolve the bond
between teh toner and paper, leaving the toner fused to the PCB, ready for
etching. See the refuser at
http://www.pulsar.gs/1_PCB/a_Pages/4_Products/5e_Toner_Applicator/Toner_Applicator.html

They can supply some software that will get you going to design the artwork
also. They stock a variety of eyelets and tooling that will allow you to
build double-sided boards without the expense of doing it chemically.
Beware... the eyelets can become expensive if your boards have a lot of
through-holes and vias that need to be interconnected. The paper is a bit
expensive too, but very good results can be achieved by using premium
photo-quality paper instead of the paper that Pulsar sells. The photo paper
has a high content of clay, which makes it suitable for this purpose. Be
sure to get paper that can be used with laser printers and copiers... The
inkjet-only variety may give you trouble.

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters in
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!
 
D

Daniel Watman

Jan 1, 1970
0
Dan Messenger said:
Hi Harry, Thanks for the reply.
The circuits I make are typical hobbiest circuits. All will probably
be one/two-off and definately single sided.
However, I do use DIP packaged chips (PICs / 555s / Driver chips etc)
Is the accuracy required for these possible on the lower budget? ;-)

Also, have you got any weblinks for the equipment/chemicals you have
described? (particularly the bubble etcher, I understand these are
expensive to buy?)

Thanks in advance
-Messenga

Don't worry about accuracy for DIP packages: I use the toner transfer method
to do double sided surface mount (0.8mm pitch) and it is pretty reliable
after a bit of practice. I haven't got enough time for a highly detailed
description, but my basic method is:
1. Design circuit (eagle)
2. Print onto low quality coated inkjet paper with a laser printer (so it
doesn't stick too hard)
3. Iron onto PCB. Clean the pcb thoroughly first and roughen surface with
fine sandpaper.
4. If doing double sided, wet the paper slightly so it becomes a bit
transparent, then poke the centre of the holes with a scriber and drill.
5. Align other side with the drilled holes and iron
6. Soak the board in WARM/HOT water (about 60 degrees C). This seems to stop
cracks forming in the toner.
7. gently remove the paper when it has soaked "enough" (experiment).
8. etch it. I use hot ammonium persulfate in a plastic dish and rock it back
and forth till its done, turning it over after a while if double sided.
Putting the etching dish into another dish filled with hot water keeps it
hot for longer.
9. ???
10. profit!

Hope that helps,
Daniel Watman
 
T

Tomi Holger Engdahl

Jan 1, 1970
0
Dan Messenger said:
Hi,
I've been making electronic circuits for a while, mostly using Vero
Board / Strip Board for final construction. I really wanna move on
and start making my own PCBs.

For information on this field take a look at
http://www.epanorama.net/links/basics.html#pcb
How expensive is the equipment for this? My boards will probably be
no bigger than a few inches square.

This depends on the process you plan to use, how good equipment
you want etc..

Tou can start making simple circuit boards with tools
that cost less than 100 Euros. But using those you can't
get best quality, there is lots of hand work and slow process..

For best quality you need much more expensive tools.
What is the cheapest way to get me started in this? Can anybody
recommend any UK suppliers of equipment? What equipment do I need?

I do not have a recommendation for cheap UK supply.
You can get all the needed thigns from RS Components
http://www.rs-components.com/index.html but this is not
a cheap place to buy many things. But they have
a very good selection of all kinds of electronics items.

For ideas what tools you need read article links on circuit
board making at http://www.epanorama.net/links/basics.html#pcb

Tools for normal "photocopy" method are the following:

- photo sensitive circuit board material
- suitable UV light source for transfering image from "film" to
the cirucit board
- suitable development solution (typically NaOH) and suitable
thigns where you can do the development and store chemicals
- suitable etchant (Ferricloride, etc..) and suitable container
where you ca do the etching
- small drill with sutiable bits to drill tho holes to circuit board
(a suitable drill holder is a good idea to have)

Those are the basic tools.
And the "film" can be for example a cirucit board layout on
maghazine page, circuit board image printed to paper,
printed/photocopied to transparency film etc..
 
K

Kevin G. Rhoads

Jan 1, 1970
0
I really wanna move on and start making my own PCBs.

Your biggest problem will be the environmental police and general ignorance. Be careful.
 
J

JeffM

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've been making electronic circuits...using Vero Board
...wanna start making my own PCBs.
-Messenga (Dan Messenger)

Read some of these threads:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group...xthree+-1p28+-Service-Manuals+-ingroup:de.sci
They all refer to Mike Harrison's PCB page--a must-read.

Toner transfer has the lowest entry barrier.
http://www.oldtemecula.com/theremin/board-etching.htm

The blue stuff is easiest.
Glossy (clay-coated) paper is cheapest;
I have used ads with 1 blank side that I got in the mail.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group..._frm/thread/46bdd51e54a09491/1e933f5f02b3d39f
http://groups-beta.google.com/group..._frm/thread/3cd9d9d74d94ace7/6adb71b9ae35ebf2
Tom Gootee's PCB page is also a must-read.

Most folks use Ferric Chloride for etchant (easy to get).
Others use http://www.google.com/froogle?q=Ammonium-Persulfate+etchant

Occcasional hand agitation of a double-boiler
made with pyrex cooking dishes will work for etching.
When you get deadly serious, there's
http://www.google.com/froogle?q=etching+plastic-tank+Printed-circuit

Software:
Cadsoft EAGLE Light if you have Windoze (freeware to hobbyists).
gEDA if you have Linux (GPL).
 
R

R. Steve Walz

Jan 1, 1970
0
Dan said:
Hi Harry, Thanks for the reply.
The circuits I make are typical hobbiest circuits.
-----------------------
Hobby, Hobbier, Hobbiest, cute.

No, you're a Hobbyist.

All will probably
be one/two-off and definately single sided.
 
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