Homebrew PCBs

Stefan,

I've read through all 9000+ postings on this board.  I very much
appreciate the contributions you, and others, have made to the hobby
technology.  My comments are not intended as a criticism.

Some readers must have some elegant circuit board facilities befitting
a small production facility.  That is fine. 

But I still had to do hours of reading and testing to get a simple PCB
process for my occasional use.  The key for me was to avoid new
hardware on my electronics bench.  I've made space for a laminator, as
a concession to smd parts, but I didn't want to spend time and make
space creating an etching system with tanks and other objects de art.

My workbench is in the house.  I don't want ferric chloride tanks in
the home.  Its nice taking the dirty job outside. 

So the Green Film, at $8 for 15 feet, has allowed me a hardware-free
etching approach. No mess, no fuss.

The other outside job is drilling pcb holes.  As much as I like
carbide drill bits, they are fragile and require precise spindle
mechanisms operating at high speeds.  My solution is low tech.  I use
a $39 Harbor Freight drill press driving 1/32 (.032) steel drill bits
that I buy by the dozen from Enco or MSC for 21 cents each. 

They don't last long, but I can by thousands for the cost of creating
a precise drilling system. If you want to build something precise
consider this.  He has two versions.

http://www.jerry-howell.com/MiniDrillPress.html
 






--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan"
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> On Sun, 03 Jul 2005 12:51:11 +0200, Mycroft2152 <mycroft2152@y...>  
> wrote:
> 
> >  These "artists' look down their noses at some of
> > the simple methods and discourage discussion by the
> > newbies. (Hi Stefan) (Listowner take note)
> 
> 
> No, it is simply more experienced people who have been there
pointing out  
> the disadvatages.
> You can make a PCB with some blank board, and a sharp knife. That's
about  
> as basic as it gets.
> However, a minium effort must be put in to get basic quality (or in
other  
> words a board that is at least similar to the layout you had in mind
and  
> has no errors like shorts and gaps).
> 
> Nobody here discourages the most basic discussion about PCB making
(and  
> you have the archives to come up with an example.). If i see a flaw
with a  
> method i will say so, that's what a list is for after all to get
help from  
> people who have tried it. A wholly aggrable listmember that only
ever says  
> "great idea, do it" isn't very useful at all.
> 
> The listowner sees that similar, as you see he only steps in if a  
> discussion gets too much off topic, and does never diccourage any
PCB  
> discussion now matter how basic the method.
> 
> I really don't know what your problem with my posts is. I ask you
to  
> please come up with an example, and then we will work on doing
something  
> about it. But if you can't do that please stop saying things about
me that  
> aren't correct.
> 
> 
> ST