Curtis- Did you encounter any issues with the paper expanding/shrinking during transfer? I have never successfully completed a dbl-sided board due to this issue- The printout always looks great, but after ironing, the image shrinks/expands. I use the staples paper as well.
Thanks for sharing with us.
-k
-----Original Message-----
From:
popecurtis@...To:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.comSent: Thu, 17 May 2007 7:49 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Sharing my success and lessons learned
I just wanted to share my recent success and lessons learned. I need
to make my first PCB which takes a passive RFID reader IC and
integrates it with a PIC, MAX232 and several LEDs and required
components.
Using Eagle for my design, I layed out my schematic and then went
about making the PCB.
First lesson learned...Some ICs aren't designed for single sided
boards...like the MAX232 for example...Pins 1 and 3 connect together
with a capacitor and pin 2 needs to go to another cap and then to VCC.
In a future design, I might switch to another MAX chip that has the
caps built in...the IC might be a little more expensive, but you will
save money in the caps and pain of double sided board.
After finding a decent layout, I realized that needed to go 2 sided as
I had about 4 traces that I couldn't route on one side and 2 of those
I couldn't even jumper easily. So I routed those traces on the front
side...not a big worry as the clad board I am using is 2 sided anyways.
Sooo...I went out and go the Staples Photo Basic paper as everyone
says that is the best (even though I have some hammermill glossy
sitting here, but it isn't the stuff that everyone says you should
use). Came home and started printing...well my toner cartridge was
low/old as this printer had been sitting in the closet for about 6
months...so back to staples for some "FRESH" toner. Printed out my
design and looks great.
The transfer went pretty smooth...except:
Lesson 2...Don't forget to clean the board. Well I did forget so I
had to clean it all off and start over. 2nd time, I don't think I
even cleaned it enough...next time it is getting the FULL treatment.
Etching was pretty simple, I did use Ferric Chloride as I wanted
something simple for my first try, but will probably switch to the
Muriatic/Peroxid cocktail later.
Drilling was pretty smooth, used a drywall screw and hammer to tap an
indention where the hole was to be drilled and a 1/32 drill bit to
drill it out with my dremel.
Assembly...here's where I learned lesson #3...double sided boards
without through plating are a pain to solder. I had to apply solder
to the lead between the component and the pad, keep it hot and then
push the component down to seat nicely. I have now reworked my design
and put an extra VIA and small bottom side trace near the component so
i can just solder a wire (using cut off leads) through the board to
pass the signal.
Anyways...hopefully someone will learn something from this post. I
have been looking at doing boards like this for years, but this is my
first try. I couldn't have done it without the information on this
list and a few other places on the Internet.
Regards,
Curtis
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