Homebrew PCBs

Hi Everyone,

I have been thinking about this for a while and I haven't seen it mentioned
before.
There are many ways to get your idea to copper one I have not seen is
TraceTemplate(TT), for those who have a CNC machine such as Crankorgan, I am
still working on my second one.
Basically milling out the entire traces of the circuit in a TT and spraying
an etch resist on the pcb. The only thing is you will not have center hole
in your pads it will be solid copper unless you get very creative. You could
also make a second or third TraceTemplate for ground planes.

This only requires a few steps;
1. Draw the circuit (CAD,Eagle,ETC or by hand)
2. Transfer the drawing to G-code
3. Mill a TraceTemplate in plastic, PCB or whatever
4. Hold TT against the PCB (clamp together)
5. Spray with a Etch resist such as laquer,possibly paint
6. Etch
7. Remove the resist

The beauty of this is once you have done steps 1-3 all you have to do for
mass production is steps 4-7. Multiple boards can be sprayed at once.
2-layer boards would be easy with reference holes and you could spray both
sides at the same time. This is going to make it easy to make large
quantities of PCBs for very little money and it will come out the same every
time. Can't wait to start making my TraceTemplate.

Derek B.
High Tech Systems
Denver, Co.

Derek,
      Using a template or stencil is basically like silk screening. 
With silk screening the silk is covered with a light sensitive
chemical. A negative is put against the silk. After exposing the
silk to light, it is developed. The silk allows ink to flow through
the image.
      The group wants to print right onto the copper from some kind
of printer so the board only needs to be dropped into the acid.

                                         John


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., "High Tech" <hightechsystems@a...> wrote:
> 
> Hi Everyone,
> 
> I have been thinking about this for a while and I haven't seen it 
mentioned
> before.
> There are many ways to get your idea to copper one I have not seen 
is
> TraceTemplate(TT), for those who have a CNC machine such as 
Crankorgan, I am
> still working on my second one.
> Basically milling out the entire traces of the circuit in a TT and 
spraying
> an etch resist on the pcb. The only thing is you will not have 
center hole
> in your pads it will be solid copper unless you get very creative. 
You could
> also make a second or third TraceTemplate for ground planes.
> 
> This only requires a few steps;
> 1. Draw the circuit (CAD,Eagle,ETC or by hand)
> 2. Transfer the drawing to G-code
> 3. Mill a TraceTemplate in plastic, PCB or whatever
> 4. Hold TT against the PCB (clamp together)
> 5. Spray with a Etch resist such as laquer,possibly paint
> 6. Etch
> 7. Remove the resist
> 
> The beauty of this is once you have done steps 1-3 all you have to 
do for
> mass production is steps 4-7. Multiple boards can be sprayed at 
once.
> 2-layer boards would be easy with reference holes and you could 
spray both
> sides at the same time. This is going to make it easy to make large
> quantities of PCBs for very little money and it will come out the 
same every

> time. Can't wait to start making my TraceTemplate.
> 
> Derek B.
> High Tech Systems
> Denver, Co.

Prior art! Prior art! ;')

I made some microwave downconverter PCBs this way, back in 1981 and
82. Very simple boards. I had problems with the paint wicking under
the brass, capillary action sucks the paint right in between the
brass sheet and the copper. It worked, but with a lot of clean up
scraping paint. This was with relatively wide traces and large open
areas. With even full size IC pin spacing, I can't imagine being
able to keep any areas completely free of paint.

I also had to arch thin wires and solder to the brass to support
otherwise disconnected areas. A real pain to keep everything flat.

I might not be picturing what you are saying correctly.

Steve

--- High Tech <hightechsystems@...> wrote:
> 
> Hi Everyone,
> 
> I have been thinking about this for a while and I haven't seen it
> mentioned
> before.
> There are many ways to get your idea to copper one I have not
> seen is
> TraceTemplate(TT), for those who have a CNC machine such as
> Crankorgan, I am
> still working on my second one.
> Basically milling out the entire traces of the circuit in a TT
> and spraying
> an etch resist on the pcb. The only thing is you will not have
> center hole
> in your pads it will be solid copper unless you get very
> creative. You could
> also make a second or third TraceTemplate for ground planes.
> 
> This only requires a few steps;
> 1. Draw the circuit (CAD,Eagle,ETC or by hand)
> 2. Transfer the drawing to G-code
> 3. Mill a TraceTemplate in plastic, PCB or whatever
> 4. Hold TT against the PCB (clamp together)
> 5. Spray with a Etch resist such as laquer,possibly paint
> 6. Etch
> 7. Remove the resist
> 
> The beauty of this is once you have done steps 1-3 all you have
> to do for
> mass production is steps 4-7. Multiple boards can be sprayed at
> once.
> 2-layer boards would be easy with reference holes and you could
> spray both
> sides at the same time. This is going to make it easy to make
> large
> quantities of PCBs for very little money and it will come out the
> same every
> time. Can't wait to start making my TraceTemplate.
> 
> Derek B.
> High Tech Systems
> Denver, Co.
>


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