Homebrew PCBs

Many thanks. This is definitely a unique approach to say the least. I 
was expecting a temperature controlled hydraulic press or something to 
that effect and you seem to have a very simple and elegant solution! Am 
I right in assuming that this method would not work for hole sizes below 
a certain range? since you a need a minimum clearence to get your 
soldering iron in and solder the two boards together? Any photos you 
could post.
Thanks again for this information. Gives me a lot to mull over.
Regards
Madhu

curt_rxr wrote:
> 
> --- 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
> 
> 
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