Etching your own boards - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 04:18:35 pm
content: Anybody still do this? Even occasionally? I ask because Dave had one in his last vid (#747) from back in the day, but seems to have given up the practice.Mike just did one in his filament lamp LED vid.I still do for no other reason than it's fun, and for me electronics is a hobby. Fun is important.Anyone else?

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 04:29:44 pm
content: eh, theoretically you can have a prototype within 1 hour (including the layout you do) for (usually) one hour if its a small system or you just wanna test the properties of some subsystem of your circuit you don't have enough information on.imo if you have a properly setup etching (done so that the process is nice and cleanup is easy), it improves your workflow by alot, assuming you have the parts. I myself accumulated a ton of parts so I can cobble something together. On the other hand if you need to order parts then the value is greatly diminished.. since you can save your self drilling etc.ON THE OTHER HAND, using a PCB house for simple shit might mean additional hoopla, and often digikey parts (and some samples) can get to a location within like 1-2 days.. pcb from china or such is not gonna be that quick. IMO reducing workplace frustration is a good thingfuck you postal service EMS lol

author: XynxNet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 05:15:34 pm
content: I still do it.For me as an hobbiest it is cheaper and faster than using a PCB house.The important part is beeing a hobbiest. I usually need small single or dual sided boards, mostly through hole or with those big smd footprints and it'is usually just one or to projects at a time at the stage of 'pcb-production'.Furthermore chemical supplies and chemical waste disposal are no problem due to my work.In the future I intend to look into milling PCBs though, because a small mill would add nicely to my home workshop.

author: ElectricGuy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 06:20:47 pm
content: I do it all the time.It's cheap and quick like SArepairman said.I use toner transfer method, iron perchloride to etch and use a column drill to do the holes.

author: kjn4685
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 07:52:52 pm
content: I have been making my own boards for 10 year's or better. For me it is easier and faster.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 10:43:03 pm
content: For me its usually couple of reasons i make them at home...- Just need that one board to get project forward- 1-2 week wait from china effectively kills my project drive. (If i got the parts, i really want to build it now.)- Its easy, cheap and fast enough when i dont need "factory" qualityIf its something im thinking i may have to build a few or sell/giveaway, then ordering boards from factory usually is good choice..

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 11:12:42 pm
content: I tend to design and make things spontaneously, so the waits for cheap fabbed PCBs are too long. It's also a little bit of fun.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 01:01:27 am
content: I've never tried etching, but I have had a long obsession with trying to get some sort of ECM setup working...

author: kerrsmith
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 09:03:11 am
content: I really enjoy making my own boards. It is quick as I can get one ready in under an hour and I can have any size I want.The cost for the chemicals was not too much and they all come in big bottles which last for ages as you use so little of them at a time.I have also found it to be pretty easy to do and all my boards have come out really well, even the very first one I did came out great (it was a test board with lots of different sized tracks and pads).The method I use is detailed in the following post:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/home-made-pcb-etching-using-uv-light-tubes-by-using-negative-dry-film-photoresis/msg645925/#msg645925

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 09:29:12 am
content: i still do and will do my own boards for simpler designs because of extremely fast turn around time. i can "re-spin" a board in no time while the cost keeps very low.