10-10-2016, 08:02 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-10-2016, 08:06 AM by Mike Watterson.)
Some combinations of tracing or grease proof paper and laser printer:
1) Clean & degrease PCB
2) Preheat board under grill
3) Iron on the laser print out
4) Allow to cool and soak off the backing.
5) Etch
If needing 5 or more, then order from China via ebay!
An budget insectcutor from Aldi/Lidl/Maplin (occasionally) can be a cheap UV source. I've not made PCBS at home since 1982, (UV then, nail varnish in 1970s!) but sent files to PCB makers.
In 2008 I used a computer controlled mill in work to make double sided down to 0.5mm pitch on 0.8mm thick PCBs. It was used to drill too. Step one was to fit a 1cm thick plastic sheet and mill it all over to have a level bed. I used thin double sided tape and a pair of pins in holes drilled in PCB by mill for holding PCB and registration.
A PCB mill isn't that expensive. Note that a laser X-Y plotter won't cut copper, but could be used to expose UV coated board. They are cheaper than a PCB mill.
I was tempted to try a permanent ink on my A3 plotter, but I have no enthusuism for etching. I use adaptor PCBs (cheap on ebay) for SMT ICs to DIL for stripboard.
1) Clean & degrease PCB
2) Preheat board under grill
3) Iron on the laser print out
4) Allow to cool and soak off the backing.
5) Etch
If needing 5 or more, then order from China via ebay!
An budget insectcutor from Aldi/Lidl/Maplin (occasionally) can be a cheap UV source. I've not made PCBS at home since 1982, (UV then, nail varnish in 1970s!) but sent files to PCB makers.
In 2008 I used a computer controlled mill in work to make double sided down to 0.5mm pitch on 0.8mm thick PCBs. It was used to drill too. Step one was to fit a 1cm thick plastic sheet and mill it all over to have a level bed. I used thin double sided tape and a pair of pins in holes drilled in PCB by mill for holding PCB and registration.
A PCB mill isn't that expensive. Note that a laser X-Y plotter won't cut copper, but could be used to expose UV coated board. They are cheaper than a PCB mill.
I was tempted to try a permanent ink on my A3 plotter, but I have no enthusuism for etching. I use adaptor PCBs (cheap on ebay) for SMT ICs to DIL for stripboard.
