Homebrew_PCBs

Hi,

I have a T-tech circuit board etcher that I am planning on putting on
e-Bay, software, lisecnsed dongel, the works.

I would like to replace it with something to do circuit boards, but
my total yearly board use is not really too big. I have done the iron
transfer and like it for small boards, but it does (in my opinion)
have limitations.

What would anyone suggest a novice guy use to make boards? I have
been using Eagle in a limited fashion and have not ever needed to
exceed the limits of the trial version, so my boards are not too
large.

Dave

(btw, any idea how to price the T-tech unit?)

On Friday 21 March 2003 05:15 pm, Dave Mucha wrote:

> I would like to replace it with something to do circuit boards, but
> my total yearly board use is not really too big. I have done the
> iron transfer and like it for small boards, but it does (in my
> opinion) have limitations.

One improvement on the iron technique may be (I haven't tried it) to
use a vacuum frame and the special paper:
http://www.dynaart.com/DTF/E.DTF.html

This may have the advantage of allowing a more consistent transfer.

> What would anyone suggest a novice guy use to make boards? I have
> been using Eagle in a limited fashion and have not ever needed to
> exceed the limits of the trial version, so my boards are not too
> large.

Well, the "gold standard" of homemade PC boards has long been the ones
made with photolithography. You can buy pre-sensitized board stock,
and you can make transparencies using a laser printer (or inkjet
printer?).

You then expose the boards (through the transparencies, of course) to
UV light, develop them, then etch as usual.

--
Ned Konz
http://bike-nomad.com
GPG key ID: BEEA7EFE

Dave,

A T-Tech system recently sold on eBay for $3850. Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&item=2512734069&category=26260

I just bought four Micromat MM470A single spindle driller/routers.
I'm going to use one for drilling, one for routing and sell or trade
the other two. We used to pay as much as $36,000 for these Micromat
table top drilling machines. Keep your eyes and ears open for these
and similar machines. They are starting to show up at attractive
prices as the PWB industry continues to go down the drain.

BTW, Micromat offers software for etch cutting on these machines. You
just use a broken drill bit as the cutter. It works great.

Tom


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" <dave_mucha@y...>
wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a T-tech circuit board etcher that I am planning on putting

on

> e-Bay, software, lisecnsed dongel, the works.
>
> I would like to replace it with something to do circuit boards,

but

> my total yearly board use is not really too big. I have done the

iron

> transfer and like it for small boards, but it does (in my opinion)
> have limitations.
>
> What would anyone suggest a novice guy use to make boards? I have
> been using Eagle in a limited fashion and have not ever needed to
> exceed the limits of the trial version, so my boards are not too
> large.
>
> Dave
>
> (btw, any idea how to price the T-tech unit?)