Tutorial: Making PCBs

[Devil_H@ck]

I just added a tutorial to my site showing how to make PCBs yourself. I thought some of you might be interested to see how it is done. There's a lot of pictures and I tried to describe every step as best as I could. However, if you think that something is missing please let me know!

Enjoy: http://members.lycos.nl/anthonyvh/index.php?page=pcb

[Magura]

Great description....well written and easily understandable.

The only thing Id add to it, is that tin plating the boards makes a board a lot easier to solder, and its easily done with some stuff call pcb plater. You can find it from Farnell for reasonable money.

Magura

[thomas997]

"The microweave is used to heat up the etching and developing fluid. You don't need to go buy another microweave, the chemicals only need to be heated for 15 to 25 seconds and they won't boil over such a short time."


Sure this is safe though?

Ive always been told to boil water, and then put the dish to be heated into that water.


btw nice site

[Devil_H@ck]

Originally posted by Magura
Great description....well written and easily understandable.

The only thing Id add to it, is that tin plating the boards makes a board a lot easier to solder, and its easily done with some stuff call pcb plater. You can find it from Farnell for reasonable money.

Magura

Thanks! I'll add it, but off course I can't give any more info on it. The solder flux protector works great too. It makes soldering as easy as with a "professional" board, so I guess it has a bit the same effect as the tin plating (well, less of course, but still).

Originally posted by thomas997
"The microweave is used to heat up the etching and developing fluid. You don't need to go buy another microweave, the chemicals only need to be heated for 15 to 25 seconds and they won't boil over such a short time."

Sure this is safe though?

Ive always been told to boil water, and then put the dish to be heated into that water.


btw nice site

Thanks!
Yes, I'm quite sure. I've done it over 30 times now, sometimes I've put the etching solution in it for 50 seconds and nothing boiled over. Of course I can't be sure that your microweave is super powerfull or something . You could always start with 10 seconds and work your way up .

About putting dishes into hot water. I tried, it sucks. I have placed dishes in water as hot as 60° and it was barely warm after 5 minutes. Since I'm using a microweave for heating everything goes much better.

Try it . (I'm not responsible for damage .)

** I updated the page with info on tin plating & temperatures .

[chris ma]

I normally would re-use the etch solution until it loss all the strength.
Can I heat up the used solution in microwave? I do not dare to try it with all the dissolved copper in the solution.

Chris

[tiroth]

You can reuse and re-microwave, but the copper tends to precipitate and float to the top, and can melt the container if you are not careful. YMMV.

[Devil_H@ck]

I didn't know about that, thanks! I'll add it to the tutorial.

[chris ma]

Originally posted by Devil_H@ck
I didn't know about that, thanks! I'll add it to the tutorial.

Please finish your JLH first or else!






ELSE is well update your tutorial then..

[Devil_H@ck]

Originally posted by chris ma
Please finish your JLH first or else!
ELSE is well update your tutorial then..

I know, I know, I really have to finish it. I can't find any
aluminium , I guess I'll have to use veneered MDF.

The tutorial is updated, I even added a 2nd tutorial, check it out to see what it's about .

[Magura]

Great work.....this sort of stuff ought to get a permanent link from DIYaudio.


Magura