Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mannapragada" <mapr@c...> wrote:
> 
> Anybody on the list know of a homebuilt multilayer (4 layers max)
> press? Think&Tinker website has a cryptic notation saying a press can
> be built for under 300 bucks but for the life of me I cannot find any
> specs or ideas after a couple of hours of on line searches. The
> Think&Tinker web site sells all the copper laminates for building up a
> multilayer stack but no furher mention of a press to press all the
> layers together. Any help would be appreciated.
> Thanks
> Madhu

If you have access to a drill press ( or better yet a milling machine )
you can drill alignment holes in 2 pieces of steel plate.  One hole
will be the home or ( 0,0 ).  Continue to drill holes at regular
intervals corresponding to your normal board sizes along the x and y
axes, taking care to keep everything square.  Mount an alignment rod (
I used 1/8 W2 drill rod )into the home position on one piece of steel
plate( which becomes the base of the press ).  Cut two more alignment
rods and  ease the ends such that they are a snug fit in the remaining
holes.  Reem the holes on the other plate so that it slides on and off
the rods.  

When you go to laminate your board drill alignment holes in the stack
before any other operation and check that the boards slide on and off
the alignment pins.  Etch your boards, spray the press with a light
coat of silicone, squeegee on a thin coat of epoxy on boards and place
on the base and lay the top plate on the stack.

The only "gotchas" are to remember to step drill any through holes (
think Towers of Hanoi ) so you can solder to each layer and to preheat
the press before use to help "kick" the epoxy.

It works for me!  ( And costs next to nothing!! )

Curt Richards