--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "baracudaztiger" <baracudaztiger@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I just wanted to share my success story with PCB making using toner transfer method. After little bit of experimentation especially with various paper types it finally worked flawlessly with great results. TT method is well known and Internet is full of the detailed explanation. just use Google (and Youtube).
>
> For a reference this the list of material I have used (all available in UK):
>
> 1) PCB design software - Eagle from http://www.cadsoft.de/ Great thing about it that is available for Mac (apart from Windows and Linux). Cost £0
>
> 2) Paper - HP 170 gsm A4 Semi-Gloss Single-sided everyday photo paper - 25 sheets from PC World. Cost £1.99
>
Nice one :) I to use the same method although I have now converted a cheap laminator to do the transfer process with. My only tip would be - Stand your jar of ferric in a bowl of hot water. Also stand your etching tray in another larger tray which has hot water in it as well. Warmed ferric etches faster. I have a 3 x 5 inch PCB I etch regularly in 10 minutes by warming it. I also let the board float on the surface of the ferric face down. This also seems to help the process speed along with the tray method.
My next step may be to set up a bubble etch tank with a aquarium pump and heater to speed it up some more.
Well done on your achievement. Have fun and keep it up.
regards
Fenris
> 3) Printer - I don't own a laser printer so I went to print out the PCB design to a local print centre. Cost £0.10 per sheet of paper
>
> 4) Etchant - Ferric Chloride Hexahydrate Granules 250grams from Maplin. Poured into 0.5l of water. Now stored in glass of pickled gherkins for future re-use. Etching duration 20-30min. Etchant cost £5
>
> 5) Single sided Copper-Clad Boards (Fiber Glass) from Maplin Medium. Cost £2.70
>
> 6) Iron - Cheapest flat iron 2000W from local Tesco store. Maximum temperature. Lean on iron for at least 30sec. More pressure better results. Cost £9
>
> That's it basically. Have fun! :-)
>