PCB pens

[Tony Clark]

> My question is to do with the etch resist transfer tracks you get.  
> Are these any good or do they just get etched any way like my 
> resist pen ?  They look deceptively simple, but then so did the idea 
> of drawing on the tracks by hand.

   If you are etching your own boards, it is critical to make sure that 
your trace lines are thick enough and that you don't leave the circuit 
board in the etching solution too long.
   I used to do this years ago and got pretty good at it.  The trick 
usually is to use a vibratory bath since the etching solution really 
needs motion to etch properly.
   I never had one and would just put solution in a shallow pan and swish 
it around until I could see that everything I wanted etched away was gone.
   Anyway, if you make sure that the traces are thick enough, I'd say 
no less than 1/16 but probably better at 1/8", they should stand up.
   
   Tony

------------------------------------,----------------------------------
I can't drive (my Moog) 55!         |     The E-Music DIY Archive
------------------------------------|  
Tony Clark -- clark at andrews.edu     | aupe.phys.andrews.edu/diy_archive
http://aupe.phys.andrews.edu/~clark |     Contributions welcomed!
------------------------------------'----------------------------------