Homebrew PCBs

Hi all,

I need some new board material and found some really thin stuff on e-
bay.  I preferr 1/16 

I need some single sided boards, but was thinking I could use dbl too.


the question is where do you guys get cheap board material ?

The last time I got boards was on E-bay, got 4 panels 16 x 20 for 
$20.00.  

I'm not in a hurry so if there is no cheap source, I'll just keep my 
eyes on e-bay.


Dave

i too bought my boards from ebay.
don't remember what i payd but very, very cheap...

i got 1,5mm and 1mm mostly double sided board.

all fr4...

i guess it must be 20kg or more...


i buy a lot from ebay, and i can afford things with it which i would not be 
able to buy new.
i also buy a lot things untestet or even known dead.
(once bought two scope isolation amps (4ch) and two norma8000a meters for 
20eur... repaired in a few hours...
you know what isolation amps cost new??)

it is amazing what you can save this way... of course you need time to 
wait..
i remember buying my first "good" multimeter from metex (3860D or so) for 
~200eur from the dealer.
with ebay i got my really nice tek7633 100mhz storage scope with good 
plugin modules for only 230eur or so...


sure... i still spend a lot of money for these things.. but i get a lot 
more items, and a professional/industrial quality
i can't think of buying new.

some people don't like "used" equipment... i don't care.
and if repairs are needed this is no problem for me..
and if i look at the numerous "surplus" webpages the prices are still way 
too high for me...

i think ebay is the ideal source for people like me, who like to have 
everything (who doesn't?) but don't want to spend much.

i know this is somwhow sliding off from your question...
but i only wanted to say ebay is great for me...

but i also think tactics is all at ebay...


regards
stefan

> I need some new board material and found some really thin stuff on 
e-
> bay.  I preferr 1/16 
> 
> I need some single sided boards, but was thinking I could use dbl 
too.


Well for new boards, you can take a look at Circuit Specialist 
www.web-tronics.com  but most will be more money than you have been 
paying on e-bay.  I take it that you are looking for plain copper 
boards.   They have single sided 1 oz. copper @ .0625" thick, FR-4 
or CEM-1 type epoxy reinforced board.   8" x 10" @$7.50,  6" x 9" @ 
$4.75

You can also try www.thinktink.com believe they have larger sized 
boards but I have not priced them before.

Also try Kepro  www.kepro.com   believe I saw something about that 
they are going out of business and selling all material in stock.

Ben

not quite so cheap, but here's where I found some really thin stock 
(cuts with scissors)...  It came a little bowed, but perfectly 
usable...

http://www.surplussales.com/RF/RFMicrowaveCir.html

(PCB)N4105
12" by 24", .014" thick, 3 oz. copper 2 sides -$7

I'll have to keep an eye out on Ebay, sounds like a great deal.
-Dal


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

> Hi all,
> I need some new board material and found some really thin stuff on 
> ebay.
> the question is where do you guys get cheap board material ?
> 
> The last time I got boards was on E-bay, got 4 panels 16 x 20 for 
> $20.00.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "wheedal99" <wheedal@h...> 
wrote:
> not quite so cheap, but here's where I found some really thin stock 
> (cuts with scissors)...  It came a little bowed, but perfectly 
> usable...
> 
> http://www.surplussales.com/RF/RFMicrowaveCir.html
> 
> (PCB)N4105
> 12" by 24", .014" thick, 3 oz. copper 2 sides -$7
> 
> I'll have to keep an eye out on Ebay, sounds like a great deal.
> -Dal


sounds nice, but my current need is for some one sidded stuff.

Dave

below that entry is the same stuff in single sided --$5; very flimsy 
though.
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" <dave_mucha@y...> 
wrote:

> > http://www.surplussales.com/RF/RFMicrowaveCir.html
> > 
> > (PCB)N4105
> > 12" by 24", .014" thick, 3 oz. copper 2 sides -$7

> sounds nice, but my current need is for some one sidded stuff.

to make one sided stuff you need double sided stuff and some etchant.
i do this all the time because i got the double sided stuff so much more 
cheaper...

simply don't care about the second side... you apply your artwork to the 
one you like and the second
(uncovered) is etched away fully....

sure your etcher must support double sided etching..

or you tape one side and etch or you etch before exposing/developing the 
one side....
but this takes 2 runs...


i found the very thin single sided material coming very bent...
the doublesided clad is very straight and flat...
maybe due to different heat expansion coefficients of copper/epoxy.


regards
stefan