[sdiy] Help with iron-on PCB art

[Ray Wilson]

Peter

I had to reply because this is too good. I too have been plagued by the
inconsistency of the iron on PC board stuff. What really cracks me up is
that it says you have to control the temperature carefully and then it says
something about most irons will work on polyester. I don't know about you
but I haven't had my clothes iron calibrated in a long time. The stuff
actually worked for me once and did a good job but I have yet to repeat my
success. I suggest you go with the pre-coated boards for positive artwork.
You print your art onto the clear sheets used for overhead projectors and
then expose and develop. It ALWAYS works perfectly every time.

Hang in there

Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Peter Grenader
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 11:50 AM
To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: [sdiy] Help with iron-on PCB art


People,

I'm having a dickens of a time right now trying to make a simple (well,
maybe not all that simple) PCB in my kitchen using the iron on method.

I've done it before, and while I've never been real secure as to when is
enough for all of the processes, I've never had the problems I saw this
morning.

One, how friggin' long do you iron?  When you do, and portions of traces
don't make it and don't transfer, is this a sign of what?  Too hot?  not
enough ironing, not enough pressure? Or to much of all?  Or is this an
indication of old iron on material?  I can only get this material one place
locally - is it possible it's just old and dried up or something?

Then the weirdest thing happen when I etched.  Everything looked great, the
trace widths are not that small, so that's ok, and when I rinsed off the
iron-on etch resist, there was nothing underneath - no copper.  I only
etched for about 10 minutes, slightly heated.  THe exact same duration I've
always done, yet I've never had this problem.

Any help in the balance of the solution vs. heat vs. time vs amount of
solution would be greatly appreciated.

The major problem I have with this is I was making a double sided board, and
after it was etched, I held it up to the light and the front/back
registration was spot on, which I considered the hard part.  SUCH a drag
that the other processes failed on me!

OK, I'm off to Frye's for some more double sided copper clad and yet another
bottle of Ferrite Chlor.  It would be swell to have some answers to these
ponderances when I get back.

Sorry if I seem a bit miffed right now - it's just really a cluster to go
threw this.

thanks in advance -

Peter