Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

I have been away from actually building my own electronics for a pretty
good while. I have designed a few simple broads with Eagle and
prototyped a few boards with dead bug, point to point and Manhattan. I
have used transfers to make PCB broad from Laser printer traces years
ago you guys have sure improved that.

I need to make some prototype surface mount broads and build them up.

From the archives I find what looks like a workable method by using:
HP Photo Paper - ∗Laser∗ - Glossy - 7.5 mil - 58 lb Part # Q6608A UPC #
8 29160 63872 0
with a proven laser printer, I have a selection to try and the paper
won't get me in Dutch. Using sponged on Heated Ferric Chloride applied
to etch the board.

If there are better methods I would like to hear them. I am looking for
a method that works, not one that works the fastest or cheapest.

While my needs are simple right now. I only have to do 8 pins that have
leads running to them and I could make the boards on a mill or coat them
with varnish and scrape the varnish away with the sage controls of a
microscope and a needle in the objective holder. If what I am working on
actually works it will need computer to go with it instead of the off
the rack one I am using for development. I would like to be able to
build my own board this time instead of sending them out. The money
comes out of my pocket this time and I am not pressed for time as have
been in the past when I was the last link in the chain on a product with
50 people breathing down my neck and deadline set by mother nature.

Eventually I will need to solder on 64 pin 0.5 mm pitch chips without
killing too many of them. I suppose a 50% success rate on prototypes
would be OK though I wouldn't like it much. I don't have any illusions
about trying to go into production. I just want to test my designs with
out having to pay the costs in time and money of sending them out to be
done. The broads will be pretty simple other than the 62 pin ARM CPU
that will mostly go to and edge connector and bus connector.

Thanks
Gordon W5RED