DIY PCB etching

[Jaakko Lofstrom]

Hi Hallgeir,

On Mon, 3 Apr 2000, Hallgeir Helland wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> I just successfully etched my very first (at home) PCB!
> I used the ELFA kit including laminate, developer and
> etching powder. And my home made UV exposer. (low cost)

sounds pretty interesting; specially the low cost part ;)
as I've been planning to build a UV exposer as well.. could you give me
any tips ?

> 
> Here's my question: The etching solution is best at 50 
> degrees centigrade - on this first board I used hot tap
> water, but now it has chilled. Can I heat it in the
> microwave oven?? Or is that dangerous?
> 

Don't think it's dangerous but it could break your oven, though. I mean
the etching solution is likely to form a new compound with the etched
metal rather than leave small metal particles in it, so it shouldn't cause
any trouble.

Then again, why take any chanses? It's not that much faster warming fluids
in the microwave oven compared to using a tin can and a stove. Normally,
the microwave is much faster because the heat energy is directly
transferred to water molecules ie. moisture in the food which
a) eliminates the need to heat air to convey the energy
b) heats the food uniformally that is it doesn't have to heat the insides
of a food portion by heating the surface enough, first.

because of that it only takes as much longer as it takes the stove to heat
not to use a microwave oven; if you use a gas stove, the time difference
is xip.es


> thanks,
> Hallgeir
> 

-- 
-jaakko löfström
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