About to etch my first PCB

[dwell]

Anyone ever try it?

http://www.riccibitti.com/pcb/pcb.htm

Any advice, cautions, etc? Seems intimidating, not so much the chemicals, etc. but drilling out these pads (actual size):

 

[zinfamous]

that looks geeky awesome.

what will it do after you add all the whatchamadoodles to it?

 

[dwell]

that looks geeky awesome.

what will it do after you add all the whatchamadoodles to it?

'78 Big Muff Pi :thumbsup:

 

[slayer202]

woah

 

[Drako]

Never etched a board myself.

I used these guys for some home projects:

http://www.pad2pad.com/

 

[PottedMeat]

I used to do it that way, but now I use presensitized double sided copper clad boards + transparencies + fluorescent light. I could never consistently get a good transfer with toner.

For drilling I use a cheap Harbor Freight drill press and carbide drill bits like these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-solid-carbide-micro-bit-grab-bag-44924.html

I shine a flashlight upwards through the base to make it easier to drill the holes.

 

[zinfamous]

'78 Big Muff Pi :thumbsup:

You might as well have replied in Swahili; I would remain just as informed as I am now.

 

[Drako]

You might as well have replied in Swahili; I would remain just as informed as I am now.

It's a fuzz box

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Muff

 

[nickbits]

I made an EPROM programmer. It worked. I don't really remember doing it so I don't have any tips but I recall it being pretty straight forward.

 

[zinfamous]

It's a fuzz box

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Muff

oh, sweet.


:hmm:

anyone else seen the connection between "muff," "fuzz," and "box"....

:hmm:

 

[dwell]

Never etched a board myself.

I used these guys for some home projects:

http://www.pad2pad.com/

Thanks, might have to use them if things don't go well D:

 

[dwell]

I used to do it that way, but now I use presensitized double sided copper clad boards + transparencies + fluorescent light. I could never consistently get a good transfer with toner.

For drilling I use a cheap Harbor Freight drill press and carbide drill bits like these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-solid-carbide-micro-bit-grab-bag-44924.html

I shine a flashlight upwards through the base to make it easier to drill the holes.

The fact that I am using a Dremel with no press leads me to believe this will end bad

 

[bruceb]

Best way is to use the photo sensitive boards. Use the correct type for either a Positive Foil layout or for a Negative Foil layout. For drilling, you should use a #68 bit for resistors (1/2w) and caps with heavy leads. Use a #72 bit for IC pins, transistors, 1/8 or 1/4w resistors, small pcb type capacitors, diodes, rectifier diodes need #68 bit. You can use a Dremel tool to make the holes. It is best if you have the drill press for it, as the bits are very fragile.

Note: Most good hardware stores or hobby shops sell the high numbered drill bits. Also drill from the foil side. I am presuming this is a single layer board. If a multilayer, holes must be drilled by the board maker before they plate the inside of the hole.

 

[Eli]

The fact that I am using a Dremel with no press leads me to believe this will end bad

Oh, dude.

Go to Home Depot or Lowes, spend the $50, and get a "Dremel Workstation". It turns your dremel into a drill press, and I bought it precisely for drilling holes in PCBs.

Best investment evAr.

 

[Born2bwire]

The fact that I am using a Dremel with no press leads me to believe this will end bad

Well, just get some scrap to practice it on then. The layout of the board looks like it shouldn't be too difficult. I think the main problem you will have is to make sure the bit doesn't slip or warp and break when you drill the vias. My guess is that maybe you should take a nail and make a small dent as a starter for each of the holes.

I've never etched a board personally. I always sent mine out with the substrate to a company and have them do it (but I've worked on rather complex boards). I will say though, solder mask is such a nice option that you get from doing this. But you are just doing through holes and not SMD packages so that isn't as much of a factor for you.

 

[bruceb]

Just looked at your layout and if that is actual size, you want to use #70 drill bits. Those pads are very small. Also be sure to scrub the board with steel wool or Brillo first. It must be spotless or you will end up with bad traces. If a single side board, place it Foil Side Up in the etchant, usually Ferric Chloride. It works better if it is a little wam. Do not use a metal tray.

 

[Mark R]

Never tried it even though I had a lot of the equipment (having had a darkroom). Just decided it was too much effort and mess, plus all that drilling seemed a lot of effort, as well as easy to get wrong.

Plus getting the boards made by an online board manufacturer was so easy and cheap (literally, just e-mail the EAGLE file, paypal the money and wait for the boards to arrive). If I recall right, I got 10 of these made for $35 shipped. (pic).

I'd had a couple of friends make some boards manually - but they were very time consuming to make, and weren't particularly neat or easy to use. (Through-hole plating and solder masks are really nice to have during assembly). Even if the home etched boards were cheaper, the time saved by getting proper ones made made it worth it.

 

[TecHNooB]

Auto-route!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[exdeath]

I etched my own boards when was like 8 or 9, usually making hard copies of projects from my electronics kit. Just be forewarned, that shit will permanently stain everything. Make sure the copper is niced and buffed so the resist ink sticks nice and thick and doesn't "spread" and allow plenty of time to dry. Rattle can the finished board with urethane, it will oxidize quickly.

Used enchant smells awesome.

 

[CallMeJoe]

I did it old school, with pressure-sensitive PCB patterns and etch-resist pen, and used copper eyelets to make "plated-through" holes.

Oh, dude.
Go to Home Depot or Lowes, spend the $50, and get a "Dremel Workstation". It turns your dremel into a drill press, and I bought it precisely for drilling holes in PCBs.
Best investment evAr.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I would never have wanted to do PCBs without my Dremel drill press.