Homebrew PCBs

Hi

I have tried many sites on creation of PCB and each gives a new 
technique.

I have software which will create my PCB design but after that there 
are so many methods some say to trace it other say use a printer and 
then transfer it to PCB using an electri iron....

Which method is good which is bad.

Please note that I am looking at making one PCB for a given circuit 
only. I will never do any mass production... which technique should I 
use.

Any help will be highly appriciated.

Thanks
Regards
Gaurav

There are many methods to create a pcb.

Much depends on what equipment you have or are willing to buy and the amount
of time you want to spend learning the technique and drilling the holes.

Also, the method depends on what you want on yur pcb. Bare board, solder
mask, compopnent legends etc.

There is no "best" method, just the method you are comfortable with.

The general methods are:

Photgraphic,
Toner Transfer,
CNC Milling
Hand drawn

Sometimes, for a one-of project, poin tot point wiring, wire wrap or strip
bopard works fine.

Myc

On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:24 PM, gaurav_verma_mca <
gaurav.verma.mca@...> wrote:

>   Hi
>
> I have tried many sites on creation of PCB and each gives a new
> technique.
>
> I have software which will create my PCB design but after that there
> are so many methods some say to trace it other say use a printer and
> then transfer it to PCB using an electri iron....
>
> Which method is good which is bad.
>
> Please note that I am looking at making one PCB for a given circuit
> only. I will never do any mass production... which technique should I
> use.
>
> Any help will be highly appriciated.
>
> Thanks
> Regards
> Gaurav
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi

Fair point.
I intend to make single sided pcb.
I am not sure of what I should buy, however equipment is not a problem.

I am looking for a method which will be very simple and not applicable to
mass produce.

I have never made a PCB, which of the methods will you suggest I should
start with(because it is very easy) ???

Regards
Gaurav

On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 11:52 PM, Myc Holmes <mycroft2152y@...> wrote:

>   There are many methods to create a pcb.
>
> Much depends on what equipment you have or are willing to buy and the
> amount
> of time you want to spend learning the technique and drilling the holes.
>
> Also, the method depends on what you want on yur pcb. Bare board, solder
> mask, compopnent legends etc.
>
> There is no "best" method, just the method you are comfortable with.
>
> The general methods are:
>
> Photgraphic,
> Toner Transfer,
> CNC Milling
> Hand drawn
>
> Sometimes, for a one-of project, poin tot point wiring, wire wrap or strip
> bopard works fine.
>
> Myc
>
> On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:24 PM, gaurav_verma_mca <
> gaurav.verma.mca@... <gaurav.verma.mca%40gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> > Hi
> >
> > I have tried many sites on creation of PCB and each gives a new
> > technique.
> >
> > I have software which will create my PCB design but after that there
> > are so many methods some say to trace it other say use a printer and
> > then transfer it to PCB using an electri iron....
> >
> > Which method is good which is bad.
> >
> > Please note that I am looking at making one PCB for a given circuit
> > only. I will never do any mass production... which technique should I
> > use.
> >
> > Any help will be highly appriciated.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Regards
> > Gaurav
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 
>



-- 
Gaurav Verma
Email - Gaurav.Verma.MCA@...
Phone - 9910732960


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- On Thu, 7/24/08, Gaurav Verma <gaurav.verma.mca@...> wrote:
> 
> I am looking for a method which will be very simple and not
> applicable to
> mass produce.
> 
> I have never made a PCB, which of the methods will you
> suggest I should
> start with(because it is very easy) ???

Toner Transfer is the simplest for one unit production.
materials and equipment needed are present in almost every household.

- design your board with whatever software you can get, can be a PCB design or any drawing program. (depends on your skill and $$$power).
- print this board on a laser printer (or have a photocopy made) on glossy paper. (positive mirror image)
- clean you raw board carefully with any kitchen abrasive cream
- apply (transfer) the image to the board with an hot iron.
- remove paper under (with) water. 
- on failure repeat previous 4 steps until success.
- get some hidrocloric (muriatic) acid and some hidrogen peroxide (H2O2) or go and buy ferric cloride (nasty staining stuff), a plastic bowl and you are etching.
- the hardest part will be drilling the holes. a Dremel with an appropriate stand will do.

yes, I know, a little over simplified but accurate and effective....