On Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:36:28 -0700, you wrote:
>First I an not new to DIY PCB making. But I am relatively new the with the
>TT process.
>
>About 10 years ago I bought 2 packages of TT paper. Pre PULSAR. Two years
>ago I tried some boards with it and did manage to make 5 useable PCBs.
>
>Last month I bought the Personal laminator from Pulsar. It has the two heat
>ranges. I tried the instructions on the PULSAR website. But with only two
>passes through the laminator I was not getting 100% good transfers. So I
>tried 4 passes. I did get good transfers with 4 passes. So now I am using
>eight passes.
>
>I used the DATAK tin plating solution I got pretty nice looking boards.
>
>But drilling the boards was a problem. I have an original Dremel drill
>press. I also have carbide PCB drills. But I am 76 and my depth perception
>is in the tank. Even with that I did make two useable boards this past week.
If you have the capability, then arrange the drill press so that it
works by moving the drill up into the board. Put a cheap closed
circuit TV camera with a magnifying lens over the PC board drill
center. Use a piece of plastic, or tape, or red lines to make the
cross hairs for the camera.
8 passes works for me, thank you.
Three or four passes works with the film. I found that laying it
flat, burnishing it a little to make it stick, then four passes works.
I do not fold over the edge.
>
>My problem now is installing surface mount components. I may go back to
>through hole technology.
See if you can find a used binocular microscope, you would want one
with about 10x to 15x maximum, rig up a decent light, and you want it
to focus with the lens about 3 to 4 inches above the board.
Harvey
That same camera would work for half of the microscope, but no depth
perception.
H.
>
>Bob Macklin
>K5MYJ
>Seattle, Wa.
>"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "gandolfreefer" <synchronousmosfet@...>
>To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 5:55 AM
>Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] oldie but newbie mystery of the universe
>
>
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I started trying to make my own PCB's three years ago, and joined this
>> group a while back.
>>
>> I am wondering if any of you feel 100% confident about any particular
>> method. I've tried 'em all - I've got a stack of laminators, chemicals,
>> photo-exposers, rub-on stuff, special papers, twenty $IR#@!! software
>> programs, the fancy bubbler etcher, enough bottles of every type of
>> etchant ever invented to kill half of Philadelphia if I poured them in the
>> water supply, even the fancy stuff that tin-plates the copper after
>> etching, and - oh, yeah - three printers....
>>
>> and I gotta tell ya, at the risk of sounding like a complete incompetent,
>> I cannot for the life of me get a decent quality PCB no matter what I do,
>> no matter what website I go to, no matter who's kit I buy.
>>
>> I'm just about to give up and just order the d∗'d things from Sunstone and
>> be done with it, but i thought I'd give this onnnnnnnnnnnnne last
>> try............
>>
>> Is there ONE method for DIY'ing PCB boards that WORKS?? Or are all of them
>> still "tweaky" random-chance methods, depending upon the phase of the
>> moon, the humidity, what type of local mold spores are blowing in the air
>> off the surrounding desert, whether your girlfriend is having her period,
>> etc......for the %(^$#!!! method to actually work?
>>
>> Honestly, I'm a perfectly good DIY'er who has made stuff on lathes, mills,
>> by hand, in metal, wood, plastic, I mean just about everything under the
>> sun, and some of the stuff I've made would knock your eyes out...but I
>> can't seem to get a DIY PCB method I can depend on.
>>
>> Anybody out there with a proven method and equipment that You'd bet your
>> life on?
>>
>> Best, Charlie
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>