Homebrew PCBs

Hi,

 

I'm designing my first PCB's.  I've decided to use the toner transfer
method.  It sounds like the safest route to go for a first timer.  I'll be
using my Samsung ML-2010 laser printer and Staples photo basic gloss paper.
I'm pretty well stuck with the printer, but if there is a better kind of
paper to use I would love to hear about it.

 

But, of course, before I get to that point, I have to have a design to
print.  I'm using WinQcad to lay out a little circuit that I already know
works (might as well have as few variables as possible).  The circuit uses a
couple of components for which there aren't packages in the basic library,
so I have to create them.  I wish there were a step by step list of things
that you have to do to create a package so I don't miss anything, but there
doesn't appear to be so I'll just muddle through.  But I find myself up
against some very basic questions that can only be answered by experience so
I decided to ask them here to see if someone would help.  I would like my
board to be as producible a possible for my first time, but also as easy to
lay out a possible.  By that I mean having room to run traces wherever I
want.  The first question is: how wide should the annular ring around the
hole for a component pin be?  How wide should a trace be? Is there such a
thing as a standard pad size?  I'm sure I'll have others as I go along.  Is
there a place that has some standards listed that people have come up with
over the years?  Perhaps some search keys or websites to look at.anything
would be appreciated.

 

Later I know I'll be asking peoples' opinions on the best etchant to use.

 

Thanks,

Mark 

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