Homebrew_PCBs

I am building a uv exposure box. I initially need it for a project that
will fit on a 100mmx160mm pcb. I will obviously design it large enough to
deal with this project.

My question is what size should I build the box taking into account
possible future projects that I am likley to embark on. What size is your
exposure box and what size would you feel is necessary?


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

Charlie,

I used to use a box with a glass surface about 12x12 inches. That was for
prototype work at an aerospace-research lab. I don't think I ever made a
board bigger than about 6x9 inches, and that was for some very serious work
on instruments to fly on the space shuttle, etc. The design policy was to
design systems that were distributed over more than one board if necessary.

I pretty much follow the same philosophy. I don't make boards bigger than
4x6, if even that big--3x4 is handier, I think. I prefer to modularize
designs in smaller chunks. In ham radio work, that seems to be the way we
build anyway: VFO, LO, IF, final PO, LPF, audio, etc. Generally one board
for each item in a block diagram. Easy to make, easy to handle, easy to
remove for testing or replacement, easy to wrap my head around. I really
dislike big-ass boards that are just a smear of traces and components from
one end to the other without visual clues as to where one function leaves
off and another begins. I need my meat cut into small pieces.

Now I don't use a box per se. My light source come down from above the
board which is placed on a piece of foam and then clamped (with toggles)
under a 1/4 inch thick piece of glass that's about 5x7--but only that big
because I salvaged it from something else.

Hope this helps.

73,

Todd
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8
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QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design

In article
<CAKAK12nfpTJOMbOFvc7d5Rj01cemeMv3EkT=mdSj=JeNceGVwA@...>,
Todd F. Carney <k7tfc@...> wrote:

> Charlie,

> I used to use a box with a glass surface about 12x12 inches. That was
> for prototype work at an aerospace-research lab. I don't think I ever
> made a board bigger than about 6x9 inches, and that was for some very
> serious work on instruments to fly on the space shuttle, etc. The design
> policy was to design systems that were distributed over more than one
> board if necessary.

The biggest board I ever made was for an eight channel lighting controller
for a small amateur dramatic society I was involved in. This was pure
analogue, output 0-10V DC, to control separate dimmer boxes and came out
about A4 paper size - which was just as well since that was the maximum
mask size I could print and the size of my commercially made light box.

--
Stuart Winsor

Only plain text for emails
http://www.asciiribbon.org

I'm a minimalist. My exposure "box" is just two 2' long UV bulbs in their
fixtures ($10 each at Walmart) tied together with a pair of bars on top. The
bulbs rest on half circles of PVC pipe about 2" tall. The PVC and line cords
are stored in a small bag. If I needed a larger box, I would probably make a
second set up and part it next to this one.

Rick



-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Charlie Taylor
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 6:17 PM
To: homebrew_pcbs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] what size should I build uv exposure box?

I am building a uv exposure box. I initially need it for a project that will
fit on a 100mmx160mm pcb. I will obviously design it large enough to deal
with this project.

My question is what size should I build the box taking into account possible
future projects that I am likley to embark on. What size is your exposure
box and what size would you feel is necessary?


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



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--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Charlie Taylor wrote:

>
> I am building a uv exposure box. I initially need it for a project that
> will fit on a 100mmx160mm pcb. I will obviously design it large enough to
> deal with this project.
>
> My question is what size should I build the box taking into account
> possible future projects that I am likley to embark on. What size is your
> exposure box and what size would you feel is necessary?

This is mine:

http://www.leonheller.com/Photos/UV%20unit.jpg

Leon

Mine is big enough to hold a 8x10 PCB but so far I haven't done anything
bigger than 4x6 or so. Bigger than that, and it's harder to fit in my
etch tank.

http://www.delorie.com/pcb/uvled/