Attempting to make a etched circuit board. I watched some you tube videos and it looks easy enough. I need some advice for the best transfer material paper. And the way to cut odd shapes in the board.
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Attempting to etch a circuit board. Need Guidance.
- Thread starter Low_Boy
- Start date
Attempting to make a etched circuit board. I watched some you tube videos and it looks easy enough. I need some advice for the best transfer material paper. And the way to cut odd shapes in the board.
you can draw the traces any shape you like with an etch resist pen & make the holes using 2 sizes of drill & a small file,
etch with ferric chloride.
etch with ferric chloride.
Cut the board with regular wood working tools.
I’ve used the toner transfer method and had good luck with it.
This is what I did:
1. printed my design with a laser printer (in mirror image)
2. laid the paper onto the copper (pre-cleaned with alcohol and scratch pad), and taped in place.
3. DAMPENED (caps for a reason) the paper with laquer thinner.
4. Gently rubbed paper with back of tablespoon until dry.
5. Rinsed off paper under warm water.
6. Etched.
Other solvents work also, but for my toner laquer thinner seemed to work the best.
I didn’t/don’t get a perfect transfer every time. Just clean up the board and try again...more or less solvent, more or less pressure from the spoon, etc, until you’re happy with it.
Troubleshooting: If you’re design is “running” - too much solvent. If it’s not transferring well, maybe not enough solvent, or maybe not enough pressure.
I’ve also done small board with an iron, and with a heat press, but generally find that solvent is the easiest and most reliable.
Good luck...let’s see when done!
EDIT: I forgot one CRUCIAL thing!
Print onto GLOSSY newsprint. I use advertisements from a free magazine.
Don’t worry about whatever is printed on there...it won’t transfer.
I’ve used the toner transfer method and had good luck with it.
This is what I did:
1. printed my design with a laser printer (in mirror image)
2. laid the paper onto the copper (pre-cleaned with alcohol and scratch pad), and taped in place.
3. DAMPENED (caps for a reason) the paper with laquer thinner.
4. Gently rubbed paper with back of tablespoon until dry.
5. Rinsed off paper under warm water.
6. Etched.
Other solvents work also, but for my toner laquer thinner seemed to work the best.
I didn’t/don’t get a perfect transfer every time. Just clean up the board and try again...more or less solvent, more or less pressure from the spoon, etc, until you’re happy with it.
Troubleshooting: If you’re design is “running” - too much solvent. If it’s not transferring well, maybe not enough solvent, or maybe not enough pressure.
I’ve also done small board with an iron, and with a heat press, but generally find that solvent is the easiest and most reliable.
Good luck...let’s see when done!
EDIT: I forgot one CRUCIAL thing!
Print onto GLOSSY newsprint. I use advertisements from a free magazine.
Don’t worry about whatever is printed on there...it won’t transfer.
Use a black Sharpie.
I bought one of these kits with a pen some 25 or 30 years ago...pretty sure it was just a sharpie
Either way....it’ll work.
I do not want to spend the $20.00 on ferric chloride until I know I have this down pat. any opinions on this etch?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCB-Printe...-Powder-4-Oz-SHIPS-FAST-from-USA/201566260627
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCB-Printe...-Powder-4-Oz-SHIPS-FAST-from-USA/201566260627
Ammonium sulfate is said to work just fine. Never tried it.
Had a roommate 40 years ago who etched his own boards. He lived on the first floor of my house, I lived upstairs. Left one weekend to visit out of town, and he had quite a story for me when I got back.
Seems his bucket of ferric chloride had spilled in the bathroom where he etched the boards. It seeped through cracks between the floor board and 'etched' the main cold-water pipe to the house. A copper pipe, naturally.
By the time I got back he had already cut out the bad section and sweat-soldered new pipe/sleeves in place. The basement floor was even dried out. Nothing important had gotten drowned.
Clearly I had picked the right weekend to be out of town.
73
Had a roommate 40 years ago who etched his own boards. He lived on the first floor of my house, I lived upstairs. Left one weekend to visit out of town, and he had quite a story for me when I got back.
Seems his bucket of ferric chloride had spilled in the bathroom where he etched the boards. It seeped through cracks between the floor board and 'etched' the main cold-water pipe to the house. A copper pipe, naturally.
By the time I got back he had already cut out the bad section and sweat-soldered new pipe/sleeves in place. The basement floor was even dried out. Nothing important had gotten drowned.
Clearly I had picked the right weekend to be out of town.
73
Do you by chance have a dremel tool?
That board is so easy you could also just carve it out, and skip the etching all together.
That board is so easy you could also just carve it out, and skip the etching all together.
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