Uncoppered circuit boards. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2024, 08:12:45 pm
content: This video was posted on another forum, I haven't watched the whole thing, just skimmed to the printing bit.We already have unleaded circuit boards, now someone has decided uncoppered boards are a good idea, even better a car dashboard. It just looks a terrible idea to me, the unleaded solder they have "printed" will just corrode & turn to dust with moisture & the whole thing will end up unreliable* scrap.*Ignoring the fact it's a mini, already unreliable scrap to start with.Edit: To save people having to waste time watching the youtube video, here is a picture from it.David

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2024, 08:25:51 pm
content: You're too late...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/ive-never-seen-a-circuit-board-made-like-this/

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2024, 08:29:39 pm
content: Your right, there are more sections/threads on this forum, than I have time to read.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2024, 08:45:40 pm
content: Quote from: factory on October 27, 2024, 08:29:39 pmYup.That's why I only read...Show unread posts since last visit.Show new replies to your posts.

author: Helio_Centra
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2024, 09:21:13 pm
content: I've seen people using a 3D printer to put down traces of conductive plastic before. But since conductive plastic isn't nearly as good as copper or tin you need to make your traces very thick.Laying down solder traces seems like a bad idea to me because there's nothing holding them to the board.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 05:20:20 pm
content: With that setup he could've milled a PCB and he'd just need a milling bit instead of the solder bath and all that gubbins. The result would be neater and more robust, but I guess the project is about clicks rather than doing a good job.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 07:56:37 pm
content: Quote from: Helio_Centra on October 27, 2024, 09:21:13 pmAgain, keep in mind that this is just aprototype, not a production unit.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 08:12:15 pm
content: A prototype still needs to be reasonably robust, otherwise you end up fixing issues with the prototype that are nothing to do with the project.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 08:18:59 pm
content: Exactly, it's crap, they would have been much better spending the time taken to create this mess, to learn KiCad and get a prototype board made at one of the Chinese PCB houses.Normal prototype (& some production boards) boards can be easily modified to correct errors, by cutting traces and adding link wire, or components where needed. Once corrected another board can be made if needed.David

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 08:20:01 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 07:56:37 pmonly took about a 100 times longer than making it right...

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:11:18 pm
content: Quote from: langwadt on October 29, 2024, 08:20:01 pmSo what? I don't remember efficiency being one of the criteria for their project. These guys just wanna have fun, and they seem to have succeeded at that. (Including producing a working prototype.)

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:26:58 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on October 29, 2024, 05:20:20 pmDon't assume malice when they could just be naive. Its a car channel, the picture is of a car, most of their subscribers probably don't even care, and the comments indicate they spent a LONG time making this happen.But yes, milling bit would have made more sense.Quote from: Gyro on October 27, 2024, 08:25:51 pmDoesn't really belong in projects to be fair.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:34:42 pm
content: QuoteDefinitely not thinking malice! But they clearly aren't naive - they have a firm grasp of what's required and ways of going about that. I would be very unsurprised if they dreamt this up over a beer (or several) and are doing it like this because no-one else has, and not because it seemed to be the best or simplest or quickest or cheapest way.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:44:25 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on October 29, 2024, 11:34:42 pmYeah that makes sense.Would have been an opportunity to draw the design, do a test fit with a piece of machined aluminum sheet, and then just hand it off to another channel as a collaboration.Clearly there was no real rush here (last channel video 7 months ago).