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Author Topic: Creating PCB's  (Read 635 times)

K3UIM

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Creating PCB's
« on: December 26, 2021, 05:01:02 PM »

I've created several PCB's back in the dark ages, but I'd like to do it again in my 'enlightening days'.

Being in the upper 80's means I've naturally become rather klutzy and apt to screw up several times before being able to salvage a good one , so I have to admit I need a bit of help. <hidden text>"A BIT"?? Judas Priest!! Be truthful, idiot!!<End text>

 Is there a product(?) that has 'layouts'/'decals' or whatever, to help in the creation?

Be kind.  ::) ;D

Charlie
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

W9WQA

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2021, 05:06:44 PM »

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K3UIM

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2021, 05:31:58 PM »

I'm thinking more of the "kit" type of product where I can lay it out on the board and 'ink in' or set in place the "pieces"(?) etc. (Keeping it as simple as possible. I'm old. LOL)

Or am I wishing for something that's not out there? (Probably!)

Charlie
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

NA6O

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2021, 05:55:45 PM »

Here’s a little talk I give to local clubs, makers, and college students. Might give you some ideas.
https://na6o.com/main/Amateur_Radio_files/Building_Radio_Projects.pdf

Gary NA6O
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AC2EU

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2021, 06:10:46 PM »

There are products like "resist ink pens" that you can manually draw the cicuit paths.
However you still need to mess with the etching solution.
Having the pCB dunked with a motorized cam works better than letting it "soak" as I recall.
It's been a long time since I have made any PCBs ( never liked the mess). I have them made by small job production shops.

Then there is this:
https://hackaday.com/2011/02/28/direct-to-pcb-etch-resist-printing/

You can "go pro" and use their supplied cad software to make a professional job of it. Probably a bit expensive for a one shot project , though.

W1VT

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2021, 06:24:24 PM »

There used to be dry transfer resist that worked just like dry transfer lettering but that disappeared years ago.
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K3UIM

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2021, 06:28:07 PM »

Here’s a little talk I give to local clubs, makers, and college students. Might give you some ideas.
https://na6o.com/main/Amateur_Radio_files/Building_Radio_Projects.pdf

Gary NA6O
Many thanks, Gary. I've got some studying to do!  ;D
Charlie
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

G4AON

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2021, 01:39:43 AM »

I currently use a laser printer and toner transfer paper. The paper is cheap and comes from China, cost varies but is around $20 for 100 A4 size sheets. Use a cheap mono laser, I use a Samsung M2020 with Samsung toner, some third party toner is not too good.

Basically you print a reversed image and iron it onto plain copper board and etch. For etching I drill a small hole in the edge of the board and suspend it vertically in a toilet cleaner bottle which has had the top cut off.

You can see the end result at https://www.qsl.net/g4aon/g4aon_ssb_tx/

The software I use is Sprint Layout by Abacom https://www.electronic-software-shop.com/lng/en/electronic-software/sprint-layout-60.html

However, many builders prefer to have boards made for them by one of the incredibly low cost and fast Chinese companies. I haven’t tried them but I am very tempted. One that is recommended is https://jlcpcb.com/

73 Dave
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KT4WO

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2021, 02:45:20 AM »

RE: "One that is recommended is https://jlcpcb.com/"

And if they can make money from it, it will be on Ebay by the
end of the week!  :)
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AH7I

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2021, 03:25:48 AM »

I'm only doing simple stuff and using perfboard with plated through holes and those little proto boards that mount SMT chips.
73, -bob ah7i
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K4PIH

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2021, 04:32:02 AM »

When I was remote in South Korea, I used black fingernail polish after I drew out the runs using a sharpie. Like Spock said "crude, but effective".
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W9IQ

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2021, 05:02:16 AM »

The venerable etch resist pen is still available.



- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

W9IQ

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2021, 05:37:36 AM »

You can still purchase the etch resist rub transfer patterns.



- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

K5LXP

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2021, 06:07:17 AM »

You don't have to use a CAD program to create the board art, can be any computer paint or graphics program, a scan or even picture of 1:1 board art from a book or magazine, or hand drawn if you insist.  If you can print it on a laser printer, you can etch it on a board.

I've been doing PCB's at home for a few decades now, some for me and some for clients, mostly prototype stuff but they turn out very well.  My first observation would be any board simple enough to do with a resist pen isn't worth the trouble, just put the parts on a prototype board and wire it point to point.  Plus, resist pens are mostly wishful thinking, by the time the board soaks long enough to clear the open areas, it's starting to etch the edges and inside the resist areas and they look like crap and will likely eat through any thin traces.

The method I've used most successfully are transfer sheets I get at All Electronics, press-n-peel.  Print your board art onto these with a laser printer, run it on top of bare board through a GBC badge laminator, peel off the liner and etch. You might be able to use a clothes iron for the transfer but it will probably take a few tries to get the temperature and pressure right.  The laminator makes the art transfer effortless.   12 mil traces are readily done and 8 mil possible if you're careful.  "Back in the day" I made my share of boards using glossy magazine paper to laser print the image on and transferred to the board with a clothes iron, then soak the paper off in water.  For a quick simple board with minimal investment I would consider this a valid method still.

Ammonium persulfate is the etchant you want to use.  Quick, easy, no mess.  I use a food container with a secure lid sized for the board I'm etching for a tank. Worlds better than the old school ferric chloride.  I recover the dissolved copper out of it by putting some scrap aluminum into the spent bath, then the remainder is safe to dispose of.

Here's a photo of a board I did for a relay coax switch project.  I recall I laid that one out using an office draw program.  Not bad for homebrew.



Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

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W9GB

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Re: Creating PCB's
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2021, 06:08:15 AM »

$5 for ten (10) PC Boards … PCBWay eliminated home solutions for some builders.
Current “new” generation has quickly embraced.
https://www.pcbway.com/
==
KiCAD Schematic Capture and PCB Layout Software
is commonly used tool with Freerouter.
https://www.kicad.org/
==
YES, you can get a cheap PCB service and also a very reliable one from PCBWay, an industry leader in the manufacturing of Printed Circuit Boards.

PCBWay is a Shenzhen-based manufacturer specializing in PCB prototyping, low-volume production, and PCB Assembly services under one roof. PCBWay has been one of the go-to destinations for boards fabrication and assembly, and they have over 71K active customers worldwide.
PCBWay offers PCB and PCBA services that specialize in the prototyping and small batch printed circuit board assembly at a relatively low cost as compared to others.
==
IF you require Gold Plated fingers (plug-in boards) for High-Quality,
THEN PCBcart.com is highly recommended by the group: S100computers,
that special-interest group orders >30 S-100 boards on regular basis.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2021, 06:11:42 AM by W9GB »
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