--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, aimo ruoho <aimounto@...> wrote:
>
> Both of these ways are for a hobbyist with a low budjet, but having
a lot of time and some initiative... Very noticeable sums of money and
effort is spared, but a lot of satisfaction gained! ( Depending
ofcourse on, how many different PCBs will be made during years.)
>
Aimo, you've just described me: a hobbyist with a low budget! For me,
though, the most expensive part of the equation is the copper clad
board itself -- and that was not very expensive. I already have a
laser printer, so the cost of doing toner transfer is nearly zero,
especially since I used pages out of a catalog as the transfer medium.
For the etchant, I mixed 1 part of 31% hydrochloric acid (sold
commonly in hardware stores as muriatic acid, used for adjusting
swimming pool ph and for cleaning bricks/etching concrete) to 2 parts
of 3% hydrogen peroxide (available at any drugstore or supermarket as
an antiseptic). The muriatic acid cost $5 for a gallon (the smallest
quantity I could find around here), and the peroxide was just over $1
for a quart. Based on this first use, I'd say the gallon of acid will
last me the rest of my life.
For software, I used a free program called Kicad, which is available
for Linux and for Windows.
So, for around $10 total investment, I made a reasonably nice quality
board, double sided, with "silk screen" (actually toner, but it does
the job) -- and I can make a whole bunch more boards without spending
anything except for buying the blank boards.
Can you get muriatic acid and hydrogen peroxide easily in Spain? If
so, this is certainly a very cheap way to make a board; I'd be
surprised if it weren't as cheap -- or maybe even cheaper -- than
getting copper tape!