PCB success!

[KA4HJH]

>>How much does Press-N-Peel cost per board (100x160 mm)?
>It costs about $1 to $2 per letter size sheet, which can be several
>boards.

The board I use from Kepro is about $21 per square foot. I have a lifetime
supply of the chemicals, which have already paid for themselves. This works
out to $3.50 per 4 x 6 (about 100mm by 160mm) board. Since most of my
boards are a LOT smaller than this, some less than 2" a side, if I screw up
an exposure (which everyone does in the beginning but you get better as you
go along) I could afford to throw it away and try again. Sunlight is free,
although I do have some photofloods and UVB lamps that will work on cloudy
days. This thing I like the most about this system is that it always works.
You get what you expected, with no surprises. That's just me, I guess. BTW,
you do sometimes have to touch up the negative--pinholes, usually.

>This is not the method that will end photo methods - it's just
>incredibly easy, fast, and has a very acceptable error rate, especially
>for one-off boards where very tight trace spacing is not critical. It's
>so easy that I think that any discussion of PCB making that does not
>include it, even with its limitations, is shortsighted. This is not
>just my experience. I provide toner sheets to a number of first time
>and novice electronics builders. I have a large number of these people
>who send email indicating working results the first time they try.
>
>It's not perfect, just good.

Can't argue with ANY of that. It all comes down to what it is you need, and
what kind of trouble you're willing to go to.

Now get a small drill press for drilling all those damn holes!

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"