by Brian_K_White | 2025-11-03 15:44:54+00:00
I think it's a neat idea that could be useful sometimes, and which I will probably never actually use.

I like that it allows you to prototype using the same smt parts that you will want in the end, without having to try to buy redundant DIP and THT copies of every part, or build a bunch of dip breakout boards for everything.

That's potentially a pretty big deal.

The reasons why I'll probably never use it are:

* It's value requires that it's not merely possible but totally convenient for you to print and etch.

Chemical etching with a sponge seems like it should be no problem but how to print? I don't have a laser engraver and I wouldn't use a router for this even if I had one. I do have an fdm printer. Has anyone one used fdm to print etching mask onto copper? I have a laser printer, is there some kind of special sheet that you run through a laser printer and then transfer like with an iron or something? I see a few almost possibilities but I just don't see it being actually convenient to where I would actually do it more than once just for the experience.

But if somehow you had this down, then great. This is just swapping out a plain blank copper pcb for a more useful one. It's a win.

* I bet I almost never have a design that fits within or around the pre-allocated number of vias and the pre-allocated positions of them.

Most of my things need a at least one 28 to 40 pin header somewhere, or 2. Even if I use surface mount versions that solder just to the top, that's still a lot of signals that usually can't all live just on top, they have to cross each other and that means more than a dozen vias. If I made my own version with more vias, they would probably just be in the way. Here he does try to make clusers of vias so there are both vias and clear spots. Maybe there is a way to just keep working on that idea and develop other layouts with more vias that still leaves clear areas.

* All my stuff, the circuit itself is usually pretty simple and doesn't need much prototyping. The initial lash-up to get the circuit working at all, is usually not where I spend all my time.

I might have a lot of traces but it's all just data & address lines without much mystery about if it will work or how it will work.

I go through a lot of revisions but prototyping wouldn't have changed that, I just like refining the design over time because it's easy to do in the cad software. It's (apparently) a passtime I enjoy. Most of the design is actually in the exact board shape fitting into something else, and fitting everything into a small space while still being hand-solderable with only medium skill/tools, ie tsop & qfn but no bga, all 0805, etc, so it can be built by more people instead of just myself or an actual fab shop.

I think for most of my stuff, this just wouldn't get me a faster development cycle. The initial lash-up to get the circuit working at all is just not where I spend most of my time, and I think that's what this primarily helps with.

Or, it helps make a better final version if you don't really care too much what size & shape the board is, any old square is fine, but for some reason you do care about having 20 vias instead of 20 bits of wire?

But I don't think everyone else is me. I mean this guy sure seems to think it's solving a problem for him.