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

My first good etched board was the result of great advice from this
group. Now, my first good double sided board has been made - again,
thanks to advice from this group!

I printed two transparancies (top mirrored) with two registration
holes along the bottom. I used an old piece of PCB with a nice
straight edge and butted a good un-exposed PCB up against it. Then I
placed the top transparancy so that it was basically square with the
new board and taped it to the scrap piece.

Out comes my center punch - carefully tap the two registration
holes, then drill a tiny hole right through both spots (the width of
a resistor lead). This lets me poke a couple resistors through the
holes to get proper alignment.

Now I flip over the whole mess and grab the bottom transparancy. I
poke holes (carefully) where the registration marks are and line
those up with the holes I drilled in the new PCB - then poke the
resistors through. Once it looks good, I tape the transparancy to
the old PCB.

Now I have have something that (sorta) looks like a two-page book. I
peel off one side of the protective film, line up the holes by
poking resistors into them, cover with glass and expose (after I
pull the resistors back out of course). When thats done, flip it
over, peel the second side and repeat the above.

After developing (flipping it every 10 seconds or so) and etching
(flipping half way through), I have a PERFECT double sided board.
Well, perfect except for the fact that I goofed in my layout and
have to figure out how to solder underneath a coin cell holder :D

Thanks much everyone for all the great information on this board!