Homebrew PCBs

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 08:03:11 -0400, Roy J. Tellason 
<rtellason@...> wrote:

> On Wednesday 28 April 2004 05:22 am, ballendo wrote:
>
>> 64x64" board size. .001" resolution. 16layers. Creates EXCELLENT
>> gerbers/docs for the board house!
>
> That "layers" part caught my attention -- is multilayer stuff really 
> practical
> in a homebrew context?
>

these are drawing layers i think, not board layers.
you have one for part outline, one for place outline, one for drill 
drawing,
one for drill, 2 for solder paste, 2 for solder mask, and finally a number 
of copper
layers, which are your board layers. there are also a variety of other
layers which i never use. (and there is a "general" for the "rubber bands" 
for routing)
I only know from orcad where i think you can add more layers (Don't know 
if there
is any limit).

Multilayer boards require the use of throughhole plating, which is 
slightly complicated
to make (and expensive). Some here have done it, and use it with success, 
most (including
me) fear the costs. I do not really need it, most of my boards are 1-layer.
It should be possible to make most boards 2 layer, especially if it is 
allowed
to make them a bit bigger than a 4 layer would be.

ST