Etching PCB:s

Loial · 27th July 2005, 10:42 AM

How do you make/etch your PCB:s?
I would like to know the best method to make a quite fine pitched PCB for SMD IC:s, qould ordinary plastic film/developing/etching do the job?

OR, does anyone know where you can buy cheap prototype PCB:s? ( by cheap i mean maybe up to 20-30$ a piece )

AudioWizard · 27th July 2005, 11:06 AM

I use the toner transfer method, which has been working pretty well for me. SMDs are no problem.

magoo · 27th July 2005, 12:01 PM

There's a good thread here http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=129317 about etching boards, and a link to a tutorial.

mwmkravchenko · 27th July 2005, 12:04 PM

http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm

This site is what got me started on the easy route. The paper advice may not be applicable everywhere on earth but the ideas are!

Mark

jackinnj · 27th July 2005, 12:35 PM

I print the file onto mylar film, then expose the boards under a darkroom negative viewer for 7 minutes, develop in dilute sodium hydroxide solution, wash in running water, etch with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid -- for the H2O2 I use the inexpensive pharmaceutical brand which is $0.39/qt -- straight, no dilution and for the HCl I use muriatic acid from the hardware store. just a few ml's of HCl "promote" the reaction.

I can get a 10 mil trace thickness pretty consistently. I also find that "pouring" a ground or power plane causes the etching process to go much faster as there isn't a lot of copper to remove.

bremen nacht · 2nd August 2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loial
How do you make/etch your PCB:s?
I would like to know the best method to make a quite fine pitched PCB for SMD IC:s, qould ordinary plastic film/developing/etching do the job?

OR, does anyone know where you can buy cheap prototype PCB:s? ( by cheap i mean maybe up to 20-30$ a piece )

I used to use this process, with boards and chemicals supplied by these guys:

http://www.megauk.com/cgi-bin/mega/l...cing_a_pcb.php

For denser boards, www.olimex.com do 160mm x 100mm double-sided with 0.2mm track and gap, solder resist and silkscreen for $33.

mwmkravchenko · 3rd August 2005, 09:13 PM

As above. What do you have to mix? I understand the H2O2 and the Muriativ acid. Acid to the H2O2 makes sense but what are the prportions? It would be a heck of a lot cheaper than Ferric Chloride that I have been buying for way to long.

Mark

Leolabs · 4th August 2005, 02:46 AM

try search on Google.I have found lots of articles regarding PCB etching.

rnrss · 4th August 2005, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loial
How do you make/etch your PCB:s?
I would like to know the best method to make a quite fine pitched PCB for SMD IC:s, qould ordinary plastic film/developing/etching do the job?

OR, does anyone know where you can buy cheap prototype PCB:s? ( by cheap i mean maybe up to 20-30$ a piece )

you will have a difficult time if you want to get traces less than .010 if you do not have a clean room etc

I just use amonium persufate water and hydrogen peroxide

TwoSpoons · 5th August 2005, 04:37 AM

Cleanroom?

I can do 10mil using P'n'P Blue toner transfer, ammonium persulphate, and a bucket. Whats this 'cleanroom' B.S. ?

27th July 2005, 10:42 AM	#1
Loial diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Gävle	Etching PCB:s How do you make/etch your PCB:s? I would like to know the best method to make a quite fine pitched PCB for SMD IC:s, qould ordinary plastic film/developing/etching do the job? OR, does anyone know where you can buy cheap prototype PCB:s? ( by cheap i mean maybe up to 20-30$ a piece )

27th July 2005, 12:04 PM	#4
mwmkravchenko diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Perth Canada	Check this out. http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm This site is what got me started on the easy route. The paper advice may not be applicable everywhere on earth but the ideas are! Mark __________________ Mark

3rd August 2005, 09:13 PM	#7
mwmkravchenko diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Perth Canada	Jack what is your recipe for your DIY etching solution? As above. What do you have to mix? I understand the H2O2 and the Muriativ acid. Acid to the H2O2 makes sense but what are the prportions? It would be a heck of a lot cheaper than Ferric Chloride that I have been buying for way to long. Mark __________________ Mark

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27th July 2005, 11:06 AM	#2
AudioWizard diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southern France	I use the toner transfer method, which has been working pretty well for me. SMDs are no problem.

27th July 2005, 12:01 PM	#3
magoo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London	There's a good thread here http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=129317 about etching boards, and a link to a tutorial.

27th July 2005, 12:35 PM	#5
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	I print the file onto mylar film, then expose the boards under a darkroom negative viewer for 7 minutes, develop in dilute sodium hydroxide solution, wash in running water, etch with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid -- for the H2O2 I use the inexpensive pharmaceutical brand which is $0.39/qt -- straight, no dilution and for the HCl I use muriatic acid from the hardware store. just a few ml's of HCl "promote" the reaction. I can get a 10 mil trace thickness pretty consistently. I also find that "pouring" a ground or power plane causes the etching process to go much faster as there isn't a lot of copper to remove.

4th August 2005, 02:46 AM	#8
Leolabs diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bukit Mertajam	try search on Google.I have found lots of articles regarding PCB etching.

5th August 2005, 04:37 AM	#10
TwoSpoons diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Cleanroom? I can do 10mil using P'n'P Blue toner transfer, ammonium persulphate, and a bucket. Whats this 'cleanroom' B.S. ?

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