Homebrew PCBs

Bertho,

I will certainly try using lye on AL. Thanks!

My goal here is to "find stuff out" and hopefully figure out a new way to
make graduated dials for hobby machine tools. I know what contact printing
can do with circuit boards and it is impressive. So I don't think accuracy
will be a problem. If I can get clean, relatively deep features, then I will
be happy. I will then fill the recesses with a contrasting material like
nail polish.

I already wrapped artwork around cylinders as I did on my homemade metal
shaper:

http://rick.sparber.org/Articles/CD/CDM/d.pdf


It works fine but did take a lot of parts to do it. Much better to etch into
the metal.

Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Boman33
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 3:16 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: etching the OD of a cylinder to create a
graduated dial

Rick,

You can also try etching aluminum using lye.

 

I understand you desire to try new and different procedures but at the same
time what are your goals and tradeoffs?  To me, the accuracy of a functional
(not decorative) scale is the most important requirement, then readability,
and I guess finally appearance.

 

Wrapping an artwork around a cylinder looks to me as an instant tradeoff in
accuracy.

 

Also to make initial testing easier, try your etching procedures on a piece
of flat metal and then afterwards progress to the cylinder.

Good luck and keep us up-to-date.

Bertho