first timer making my own boards - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: mikefromtheuk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 04:45:55 pm
content: Hi all long time lurker in the forums and have been watching the show for the past year. I am a beginner at hobby electronics but I am now at a stage where I would like to have a go at making my own circuit boards. I have out grown Prototype board from maplins!I got a copy of circuit wizard for Christmas and designed a few boards with it. I have been looking around youtube to see how you go about etching boards at home. I have found this videoon how to use pre-coated positive photoresist board. He also has one on how to make a bubble etch tank but there is a lot of other information on this. So if I follow the steps in this video am I going in the right direction to making my own boards.Many thanks for your help mike

author: TorqueRanger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 05:13:20 pm
content: I like this guys video too but it's very basic..

author: Amarbir[Lynx-India]
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 05:25:29 pm
content: Brilliant ,Would be handy once i start making electronic projects in the next indian financial year " 2013 ~ 14 " .Does anyone have more videos of this type .I saw he had the drill holes and bit larger

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 06:55:13 pm
content: Yea I used to stick two prints together, something I learnt from my offset printing days when printing solid black was does by passing the sheets through the press at least twice for the very same reasons.

author: Amarbir[Lynx-India]
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 07:06:43 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on February 05, 2013, 06:55:13 pmSimon ,thanks for this info .After march 31st i am going into electronic projects manufacturing for kids etc .i would need more info then .We already have enough info here btw

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 07:21:41 pm
content: that revealing was i ?

author: mikefromtheuk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 07:23:31 pm
content: after watching his second video herei contacted him he said he made this sometime ago and has since updated the etch tank using a ant farm from amazon!i am ordering some devoloper and ferric chloride from rapid and giving this a go. does anyone know if you have to use a uv light like he did in the video or can you use household light bulbs?mike

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 07:25:25 pm
content: I thought he used a normal energy saving bulb which is why he needed a whole 8 minutes and was not too bothered about precision timing.I made a UV box with UV LED's and it will expose in 25 seconds and yes every second is significant, by 35 seconds it's over exposed.

author: mikefromtheuk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 07:29:12 pm
content: sorry i am looking at the video i posted this onehe made is light box out of an old drill box/casemikeedit he said it only needed 3 mins

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 09:28:06 pm
content: These days, if I need to hand make a board at home, I put it in a plastic bowl with etchant and use a brush, but if you need a small tank, here is a possible solutionhttp://kinsten.com.au/pcb/#et

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 12:13:28 pm
content: Getting boards made in china is cheap and easy these days. You can get 10 5x5cm 2 layer boards for $14 delivered from itead.com they do other sizes too, worth a look compared with making your own as long as you aren't in a hurry for the boards.

author: lewis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 12:22:21 pm
content: Kit C here:http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/PCB-Production-Kits-29467looksextremelygood value.Or there's this stuffhttp://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/Press-n-Peel-PCB-transfers-29483which you print onto using a laser printer and iron directly onto the bare copper pcb then etch in ferric chloride or your favourite etchant. Saves UV boxes, acetate transparencies, developer and pre-sensitised board, but the results are extremely variable. OK for one-off prototypes.Kit D here:http://megauk.com/pcb_kits.phpis the bee's bollocks, but expensive.

author: ptricks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 01:16:59 pm
content: I never have used an ethant tank, really a bowl or plastic/glass container and shaking it works well enough.If you intend to do more PCB at home get a laminator , irons work but you will fail a lot of the time and it just isn't worth the frustration when laminators are so cheap.Also get a box of baking soda and keep it near, if something like a spill does happen the baking soda will neutralize the etchant quick.

author: Amarbir[Lynx-India]
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 01:26:22 pm
content: Hi ,Has Anyone in EEvlob Tried This ->www.pcbfx.com?