Homebrew PCBs

I prefer that question and answers take place on the list, for a
variety of reasons.

I've not tried doing anything as small as surface mount. It is OK
for larger components, make sure you are using a good quality vinyl
that is easy to weed as weeding anything that small can be a bear.
Don't expect to run traces between DIP pads or to etch the holes.

If you've got experience doing small stuff with vinyl, it shouldn't
be too difficult. As with any method, clean the PCB first.

Steve Greenfield

--- James McGee <ace@...> wrote:

> Hi,
> first off I'm a newbie.... James McGee from Statesboro Ga.
> I want to make a pcb and I only have a inkjet printer and was
> looking
> like It may not work that well, then I was looking through the
> files
> seection and noticed your work.
>  I have a roland stika12 vinyl cutter, I was wondering if you
> still use
> your sign cutter or decided it wasn't good enough.
> Thanks
> James
> 
>

I cut 2 out last night, small & simple (relay board) one I weeded and 
left the pattern in case I wanted to use it for sort of a stencil. 
The other is the pattern. I was able to cut and weed .77mm/.0030 
traces. I was suprised such small stuff worked so easy, I 
use "bionic" reading glasses to weed. (lol) The whole pattern is 
1"X2" and nothing fancy or complicated, I downloaded some other 
boards and imported them but nothing looked acceptable, I'll have to 
redraw them to get acceptable results. I'm thinking about using one 
of the old printers I have around here and moding it to print 
directly and trying waterproof ink. The Stika may work if I can 
import the images a little "cleaner" The weeding aint to bad with a 
razor hobby knife and descent reading glasses ... 





--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Steve Greenfield 
<alienrelics@...> wrote:

>
> I prefer that question and answers take place on the list, for a
> variety of reasons.
> 
> I've not tried doing anything as small as surface mount. It is OK
> for larger components, make sure you are using a good quality vinyl
> that is easy to weed as weeding anything that small can be a bear.
> Don't expect to run traces between DIP pads or to etch the holes.
> 
> If you've got experience doing small stuff with vinyl, it shouldn't
> be too difficult. As with any method, clean the PCB first.
> 
> Steve Greenfield
> 
> --- James McGee <ace@...> wrote:
> 
> > Hi,
> > first off I'm a newbie.... James McGee from Statesboro Ga.
> > I want to make a pcb and I only have a inkjet printer and was
> > looking
> > like It may not work that well, then I was looking through the
> > files
> > seection and noticed your work.
> >  I have a roland stika12 vinyl cutter, I was wondering if you
> > still use
> > your sign cutter or decided it wasn't good enough.
> > Thanks
> > James
> > 
> >
>

Pictures! We'd love to see some pictures.

Steve Greenfield

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "James McGee" <ace@...> wrote:

>
> I cut 2 out last night, small & simple (relay board) one I weeded and 
> left the pattern in case I wanted to use it for sort of a stencil. 
> The other is the pattern. I was able to cut and weed .77mm/.0030 
> traces. I was suprised such small stuff worked so easy, I 
> use "bionic" reading glasses to weed. (lol) The whole pattern is 
> 1"X2" and nothing fancy or complicated, I downloaded some other 
> boards and imported them but nothing looked acceptable, I'll have to 
> redraw them to get acceptable results. I'm thinking about using one 
> of the old printers I have around here and moding it to print 
> directly and trying waterproof ink. The Stika may work if I can 
> import the images a little "cleaner" The weeding aint to bad with a 
> razor hobby knife and descent reading glasses ... 
> 
>

I'll get some tonight, the parts came in today so I'll go through the 
whole process and post them! I'm excited my first project! 
Question... Should I use the stencil and sharpie on the copper or use 
the vinyl to mask it?
J




--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@...> wrote:
>
> Pictures! We'd love to see some pictures.
> 
> Steve Greenfield
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "James McGee" <ace@> wrote:
> >
> > I cut 2 out last night, small & simple (relay board) one I weeded 
and 
> > left the pattern in case I wanted to use it for sort of a 
stencil. 
> > The other is the pattern. I was able to cut and weed .77mm/.0030 
> > traces. I was suprised such small stuff worked so easy, I 
> > use "bionic" reading glasses to weed. (lol) The whole pattern is 
> > 1"X2" and nothing fancy or complicated, I downloaded some other 
> > boards and imported them but nothing looked acceptable, I'll have 
to 
> > redraw them to get acceptable results. I'm thinking about using 
one 
> > of the old printers I have around here and moding it to print 
> > directly and trying waterproof ink. The Stika may work if I can 
> > import the images a little "cleaner" The weeding aint to bad with 
a 

> > razor hobby knife and descent reading glasses ... 
> > 
> >
>