Homebrew PCBs

Hi All,

With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or materials 
are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am unsure of 
what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, which is 
primarily plastic, works as a resist. 

Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.

Chris

>Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.

Should we assume that you are aware of the availability of positive 
photo resist PCBs with the resist already applied, it's just a matter 
of peeling off a protective covering at exposure time? 

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" 
<lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or 
materials 
> are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am unsure 
of 

> what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, which is 
> primarily plastic, works as a resist. 
> 
> Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> 
> Chris

Yup, aware of that. I am more interested in a liquid of some sort 
that can be applied to the bare copper prior to etching.



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "derekhawkins" 
<derekhawkins@y...> wrote:
> >Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> 
> Should we assume that you are aware of the availability of 
positive 
> photo resist PCBs with the resist already applied, it's just a 
matter 
> of peeling off a protective covering at exposure time? 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" 
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> > Hi All,
> > 
> > With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or 
> materials 
> > are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am 
unsure 
> of 
> > what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, 
which is 

> > primarily plastic, works as a resist. 
> > 
> > Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> > 
> > Chris

You can buy resist spray. I think Russ Shaw has a lot of experience 
in this area. You can Google his name and resist spray or something 
similar if he or someone else doesn't chime in here.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" 
<lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:

> Yup, aware of that. I am more interested in a liquid of some sort 
> that can be applied to the bare copper prior to etching.
> 
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "derekhawkins" 
> <derekhawkins@y...> wrote:
> > >Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> > 
> > Should we assume that you are aware of the availability of 
> positive 
> > photo resist PCBs with the resist already applied, it's just a 
> matter 
> > of peeling off a protective covering at exposure time? 
> > 
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" 
> > <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> > > Hi All,
> > > 
> > > With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or 
> > materials 
> > > are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am 
> unsure 
> > of 
> > > what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, 
> which is 
> > > primarily plastic, works as a resist. 
> > > 
> > > Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> > > 
> > > Chris

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:06:41 +0200, lcdpublishing  
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:

> Hi All,
> With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or materials
> are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am unsure of
> what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, which is
> primarily plastic, works as a resist.
> Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> Chris


The pens don't seem to work properly with CuCl, esp. if the pen isn't  
totally fresh any more (less ink).

I tried a silver marker which puts down a really thick layer (you know the  
kind for writing on black) but it didn't hold up well.


Acrylic laquer works.


You really should try EDM, with your CNC experience and all.

ST

Heck, I would even try milling a board if I could find some free 
layout software to create the milling code. I am just to darn lazy 
to go through the process of drawing in CAD or worse yet, writing 
the program by hand - my time is just too short.

Anyone have suggestions for some free software to design a PCB and 
have it output the CNC Code?

CHris




--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:06:41 +0200, lcdpublishing  
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> 
> > Hi All,
> > With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or 
materials
> > are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am 
unsure of
> > what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, 
which is
> > primarily plastic, works as a resist.
> > Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> > Chris
> 
> 
> The pens don't seem to work properly with CuCl, esp. if the pen 
isn't  
> totally fresh any more (less ink).
> 
> I tried a silver marker which puts down a really thick layer (you 
know the  

> kind for writing on black) but it didn't hold up well.
> 
> 
> Acrylic laquer works.
> 
> 
> You really should try EDM, with your CNC experience and all.
> 
> ST

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 20:08:18 +0200, lcdpublishing  
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:

> Heck, I would even try milling a board if I could find some free
> layout software to create the milling code. I am just to darn lazy
> to go through the process of drawing in CAD or worse yet, writing
> the program by hand - my time is just too short.
> Anyone have suggestions for some free software to design a PCB and
> have it output the CNC Code?
> CHris
>


You can try target
<http://www.ibfriedrich.com/>

limited to 100pins, free version.
I bought the 700pin version, it isn't the ideal software but i can't  
afford the better ones.


It can do a few milling output formats, hpgl, xgerber, isel, cnc iso6983,  
charly robot P.C.B. (???).

There is a english version. (Not well translated tho..)





Eagle has ULPs for iso. milling.


ST

In a message dated 6/30/2005 8:07:35 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
lcdpublishing@... writes:

With  regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or materials 
are good  for resist?


Chris:  GOOD question!  The "resist pens" are  generally marginal, if they 
work at all.  There is a German  (Stätdler?  Sp?) RED pen that is supposed to be 
superior.   I  bought some "Industrial Sharpies" (U.S. make), but haven't had 
time to  try.  
 
FINGERNAIL POLISH (basically a fine lacquer) is excellent,  particularly for 
large areas that need to be "painted".  
 
Of course, the proprietary photo-sensitive sprays, or  pre-sensitized blanks 
are good, if DONE properly!  This takes some patience  to DO right!
 
Lotsa luck!        Jan  Rowland


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

You might try the demo version of WinQcad.  I believe it is limited 
to less than 500 pins.  It outputs G Code for milling boards.

http://www.winqcad.com/

Bob

> Heck, I would even try milling a board if I could find some free
> layout software to create the milling code. I am just to darn lazy to
> go through the process of drawing in CAD or worse yet, writing the
> program by hand - my time is just too short.
> 
> Anyone have suggestions for some free software to design a PCB and
> have it output the CNC Code?
> 
> CHris
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
> <stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> > On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:06:41 +0200, lcdpublishing  
> > <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi All,
> > > With regard to chemical etching of boards, what chemicals or 
> materials
> > > are good for resist?  I know there are resist pens, but I am 
> unsure of
> > > what the "Ink" is actually made of.  I also know that toner, 
> which is
> > > primarily plastic, works as a resist.
> > > Just working on some ideas for alternative ways to apply resist.
> > > Chris
> > 
> > 
> > The pens don't seem to work properly with CuCl, esp. if the pen 
> isn't  
> > totally fresh any more (less ink).
> > 
> > I tried a silver marker which puts down a really thick layer (you 
> know the  
> > kind for writing on black) but it didn't hold up well.
> > 
> > 
> > Acrylic laquer works.
> > 
> > 
> > You really should try EDM, with your CNC experience and all.
> > 
> > ST
> 
> 
> 
> 
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