Homebrew PCBs

Hey Guys, new here to the group and I love it.  

 

I've tried the Toner Transfer method a few times and wasn't happy with
the inconsistent results, so I tried the photo resist method. 

 

As the subject states, when I put my board in the positive developer
solution, of course it ate away the un protected  areas but also ate
away the circuit image as well. 

 

I'm using this developer:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1
&productId=156734&catalogId=10001&freeText=156734

And these boards:
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-
1&productId=156751

 

I've mixed roughly 1 part developer to 10 parts water.

 

I've exposed the board / image to a 125 Watt CFL for about 45 mins.  I
wouldn't think longer would hurt anything. 

 

Too strong of  a developer/water mixture ?  Did I keep the board in the
developer too long ? Any ideas  ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Regards,

Steve Maroney

 

Business Computer Support, LLC

Mobile Phone:504-914-4704

Office Phone: 504-904-0266

Fax: 866-871-7797

 

 



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

On 15/04/2010 20:03, Steve Maroney wrote:
> Hey Guys, new here to the group and I love it.
>
>
>
> I've tried the Toner Transfer method a few times and wasn't happy with
> the inconsistent results, so I tried the photo resist method.
>
>
>
> As the subject states, when I put my board in the positive developer
> solution, of course it ate away the un protected  areas but also ate
> away the circuit image as well.
>
>
>
> I'm using this developer:
> http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1
> &productId=156734&catalogId=10001&freeText=156734
>
> And these boards:
> https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-
> 1&productId=156751
>
>
>
> I've mixed roughly 1 part developer to 10 parts water.
>
>
>
> I've exposed the board / image to a 125 Watt CFL for about 45 mins.  I
> wouldn't think longer would hurt anything.
>
>
>
> Too strong of  a developer/water mixture ?  Did I keep the board in the
> developer too long ? Any ideas  ?

Over exposure, probably.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller
G1HSM

> 
> I've exposed the board / image to a 125 Watt CFL for about 45 mins.  I
> wouldn't think longer would hurt anything. 
> 
>


Yes, it certainly will. Try 4-5 minutes with a 15W fluorescent. I'm fond of those U-shaped tubes for bug zappers, they're unfiltered (/BL) blacklights and work very nicely and are available at any hardware store. They will run from a standard F15 choke ballast and glowbottle starter, the gear from a cheap under-cabinet fluorescent fixture will work fine too. With the use it will get the tube will last pretty much forever so you can just solder wires to the pins and glue it into a reflector with silicone caulk.

Or you could just buy one of the little UV exposure units, but 125W is WAAAAAAAY too much and it's the wrong wavelength.