[sdiy] DIY pcbs - how difficult is it, and where to begin?

[Dino Leone]

Julian,

You might want to have a look at the following website:

http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm

I've been using Tom Gootee's "protocol" for a few boards (made about 
10), all double sided, about 4x6" big. After 1-2 more or less 
unsuccessful trials it now works beautifully and is just perfect!
Things to keep in mind when you consider doing PCBs yourself: you 
need a few things:
- bare copper boards (cheap)
- carbide drill bits (can be cheap... search around)
- drill press (I bought one for approx. $70)
- drill (for example a Dremel)
- etchant (I use the plain ferric chloride - very cheap (ca. $4/ 0.5L)
- "tinnit" (or similiar product) to tin plate the copper traces after etching
- Iron (...)


This means your initial cost will be between $150 and $200 depending....
Personally, I think it's worth to do it yourself, but it's kind of 
messy (both the etching and then the drilling).
One disadvantage of diy-pcbs: the holes will not be plated - I 
believe they are normally silver-plated when having boards made. This 
means you have to solder some of the components on both sides of the 
board. Via holes are a pain (I'm using resistor leads for this)!

For a program, check the archives. There are many options. I'm using 
the non-profit version of Eagle ($125) and I hate the size limit very 
much but I got used to the program and I'll probably stick with it 
for a while...

Hope this helps.
Dino





>Right, Its something ive wondered about for a long time, but never 
>made a start with, so im wondering - etching your own board: how 
>much of a black art is it?
>
>How many attempts is it likely to take before i get it right (i know 
>thats an open ended question, but, is it like 'wow - he got it to 
>work first time - amazing!' or what?)
>
>I have a friend who tried twice in the past, with no success, i 
>suspect that they were reasonably carefull, so thats what worries me 
>; )
>
>Is there some fool proof technique?  Im guessing that the variables 
>of temperature, time, and chemical makeup all affect things, so im 
>wondering if i can get a specific set of one make of chemicals / 
>boards and just follow the directions to the letter - ie to take out 
>any human skill on my behalf.
>
>I know some of you make boards all the time, but, as i say, im aware 
>my friend had no success, so it cant be that easy either.
>
>Any comments at all would be most appreciated.
>
>Again, im in England, so any suggested products need to be available here too.
>
>
>Failing all that, if i want to get a company to do it for me...
>
>To go from the schematic to pcb, i need to do the layout in some 
>program (any free and easy suggestions?) and upload the file to a 
>company (i know there have been threads in the past on companies), 
>but, having never used the layout software, im wondering how 
>automated it all is?  Ie. is there stuff i need to *know* about 
>board layout rather then just being careful with inputting data off 
>schematic?  (Will i have decisions to make)
>
>Basically, id like to start on this, whichever way, but id really 
>like some pointers as to where to begin.
>
>Cheers, Julian
>
>

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