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Homebrew PCBs

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success!

success!

2012-11-23 by Rick Sparber

A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I lower
my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7" down to
2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My first test piece
was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric chloride at about 75F. The
second test piece used the same set up and chemicals but the acid sat out in
the Arizona sun for about 15 minutes so must have warmed up. It etched in
5.5 minutes.

 

My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using
convection etching.

 

Rick



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

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-23 by Mitch Davis

On Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 4:14 AM, Rick Sparber <rgsparber@...> wrote:
> 2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement.

Congratulations, feels good eh?

Mitch.

RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-23 by Jeff Heiss

You can use a 21 step stouffer gauge ($12) to check where you are in
relation to the optimal exposure time.  2.5" sounds close.  The closer the
bulb, the more the light hits the board at and angle where ideally
perpendicular is wanted.  Maybe you are not doing any fine artwork?  What
resist and UV lamp are you using?

 

Jeff

 

  _____
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Rick Sparber
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 3:15 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

 

  

A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I lower
my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7" down to
2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My first test piece
was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric chloride at about 75F. The
second test piece used the same set up and chemicals but the acid sat out in
the Arizona sun for about 15 minutes so must have warmed up. It etched in
5.5 minutes.

My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using
convection etching.

Rick

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





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

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-23 by StoneTool

Rick:
     Have you opted against the bubble agitation system altogether?   
Sounds like a simple and logical method the way it was presented.

                                                         Howard
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 11/23/2012 01:14 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
> A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I lower
> my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7" down to
> 2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My first test piece
> was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric chloride at about 75F. The
> second test piece used the same set up and chemicals but the acid sat out in
> the Arizona sun for about 15 minutes so must have warmed up. It etched in
> 5.5 minutes.
>
>
>
> My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using
> convection etching.
>
>
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-24 by Rick Sparber

Howard,

With an etch time under 10 minutes and clean results, I'm happy with this
simple approach. 

Rick
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of StoneTool
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 2:59 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

Rick:
     Have you opted against the bubble agitation system altogether?   
Sounds like a simple and logical method the way it was presented.

                                                         Howard

On 11/23/2012 01:14 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
> A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I 
> lower my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7" 
> down to 2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My 
> first test piece was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric 
> chloride at about 75F. The second test piece used the same set up and 
> chemicals but the acid sat out in the Arizona sun for about 15 minutes 
> so must have warmed up. It etched in
> 5.5 minutes.
>
>
>
> My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using 
> convection etching.
>
>
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>



------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links

RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-24 by Rick Sparber

Jeff,

The artwork is not all that fine. You can see it at

http://rick.sparber.org/LEEF_Model_2.pdf

page 26.

Component placement is on page 25.

Rick
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Jeff Heiss
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 2:34 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

You can use a 21 step stouffer gauge ($12) to check where you are in
relation to the optimal exposure time.  2.5" sounds close.  The closer the
bulb, the more the light hits the board at and angle where ideally
perpendicular is wanted.  Maybe you are not doing any fine artwork?  What
resist and UV lamp are you using?

 

Jeff

 

  _____  

From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Rick Sparber
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 3:15 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

 

  

A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I lower
my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7" down to
2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My first test piece
was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric chloride at about 75F. The
second test piece used the same set up and chemicals but the acid sat out in
the Arizona sun for about 15 minutes so must have warmed up. It etched in
5.5 minutes.

My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using
convection etching.

Rick

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





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



------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links

RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-25 by Rick Sparber

Mitch,

It reminds me of the line from Douglas Adam's about the man that thought he was going blind but was just wearing a hat a few sizes too big ;-)

Yes, feed very good. I knew that etching was a science, not an art. At least for the simple board I was doing.

Rick
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mitch Davis
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 2:03 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

On Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 4:14 AM, Rick Sparber <rgsparber@...> wrote:
> 2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement.

Congratulations, feels good eh?

Mitch.


------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-25 by StoneTool

Rick:
     Results are all that matter.............    There is a good case 
for being able to view the progress of the etching as you can do  with 
the glass tray and the light underneath it.  The system with bubbles and 
a board hanging vertically does not allow for this........... It did 
sound like there was a good case for aeration though.

                                                                         
Howard
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 11/24/2012 03:38 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
> Howard,
>
> With an etch time under 10 minutes and clean results, I'm happy with this
> simple approach.
>
> Rick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of StoneTool
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 2:59 PM
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!
>
> Rick:
>       Have you opted against the bubble agitation system altogether?
> Sounds like a simple and logical method the way it was presented.
>
>                                                           Howard
>
> On 11/23/2012 01:14 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>> A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I
>> lower my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7"
>> down to 2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My
>> first test piece was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric
>> chloride at about 75F. The second test piece used the same set up and
>> chemicals but the acid sat out in the Arizona sun for about 15 minutes
>> so must have warmed up. It etched in
>> 5.5 minutes.
>>
>>
>>
>> My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using
>> convection etching.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

2012-11-25 by Rick Sparber

Howard,

What you say is especially true since one of the labs I teach is etching a
circuit board. Letting the students see the progress helps maintain their
attention.

Thanks to all that helped me!

Rick
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of StoneTool
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 10:09 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!

Rick:
     Results are all that matter.............    There is a good case 
for being able to view the progress of the etching as you can do  with the
glass tray and the light underneath it.  The system with bubbles and a board
hanging vertically does not allow for this........... It did sound like
there was a good case for aeration though.

                                                                         
Howard

On 11/24/2012 03:38 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
> Howard,
>
> With an etch time under 10 minutes and clean results, I'm happy with 
> this simple approach.
>
> Rick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of StoneTool
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 2:59 PM
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] success!
>
> Rick:
>       Have you opted against the bubble agitation system altogether?
> Sounds like a simple and logical method the way it was presented.
>
>                                                           Howard
>
> On 11/23/2012 01:14 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>> A friend looked at my pictures of my failed etchings and suggested I 
>> lower my UV light and greatly extend the exposure time. I went from 7"
>> down to 2.5" and from 1 minute to 8 minutes. HUGE improvement. My 
>> first test piece was done etching in 9 minutes with the ferric 
>> chloride at about 75F. The second test piece used the same set up and 
>> chemicals but the acid sat out in the Arizona sun for about 15 
>> minutes so must have warmed up. It etched in
>> 5.5 minutes.
>>
>>
>>
>> My next test cycle will be with all the same except I will try using 
>> convection etching.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>



------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links

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