Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post here to teach people how to do something.

Moderators: Chuckt, Garth, bitfogav

User avatar
bitfogav
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 915
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by bitfogav » Sun Nov 14, 2010 12:37 am

Making your own Printed Circuit Boards yourself!.
ab15r.jpg
ab15r.jpg (31.54 KiB) Viewed 20609 times
Theres a few ways or methods out there for making your own PCB's at home and I just thought I would share some information for poeple who want to make there own PCB's for there projects! :)

The First thing you will need Is some kind of PCB making software:

Eagle- http://www.cadsoft.de/

Diptrace - http://www.diptrace.com/

Next thing your will need is a good Laser printer (I use a Samsung monochrome ML-1665) this is ONLY a BLACK laser printer.
printer.jpg
printer.jpg (4.63 KiB) Viewed 20609 times
The cheapest way I would say to making PCB's is what is known as "Press and Peel" tutorial can be found here:
http://www.techniks.com/how_to.htm

Another way is the UV light and photoresist board way, which can be found here:
http://www.technologystudent.com/pcb/PCB3A.htm

UV light boxes are quite expensive at around £100.
uv light.jpg
uv light.jpg (25.56 KiB) Viewed 20609 times
Your will also need Etching chemicals - where the excess copper is removed to leave the individual tracks or traces.
ferric%20cloride.jpg
ferric%20cloride.jpg (77.42 KiB) Viewed 20609 times
And then your need a good fixed drill to drill your holes for the PCB connections:
driil.jpg
driil.jpg (12.66 KiB) Viewed 20608 times

So you could end up making boards like this? Single or double sided:
0107_02.jpg
0107_02.jpg (47.52 KiB) Viewed 20609 times
If you got any Questions or need help then just ask and Ill try and help! :)

User avatar
brad
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2578
Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:30 pm
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by brad » Sun Nov 14, 2010 12:52 pm

Very nice indeed bitfogav!

I was actually looking at doing a how to on youtube about etching PCB's - and your method is very similar to mine.

Good job!

User avatar
sdudley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 337
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:33 pm
Location: Florida, U.S.A.
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by sdudley » Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:56 pm

I thought about using my inkjet printer to print directly onto the pcbs. I even purchased a second printer (used) just for the purpose but have not yet got around to trying it. The printer has to be capable of printing directly to a CD and of course you have to purchase different ink. Maximum board size is limited to the size of a CD (obviously).

Here is link showing how it's done.

http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/tutorial.html

Stacy
Any time you deviate from sequential consistency, you increase the complexity of the problem by orders of magnitude.

User avatar
bitfogav
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 915
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by bitfogav » Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:37 am

brad wrote:Very nice indeed bitfogav!

I was actually looking at doing a how to on youtube about etching PCB's - and your method is very similar to mine.

Good job!
I really enjoy your youtube videos Brad! :)


Heres a tip for using Press N Peel to make PCBs:
To make the PnP sheet/sheets last as long as possible, print on a piece of plain paper, then cut out a piece of PnP to the right size and tape it onto the printout, dull side up, using scotch (clear) tape, or something close enough?.

Then print out your (pcb) design again by reloading your paper into the printer (obviously noting which direction/side your printer prints onto!) and then this time the pattern is printed onto the piece of PnP.

Setting your laser printer to its darkest setting will get more toner on there, which can help if you have adhesion problems, but in general with PnP I find it's not all that necessary.
I think its important to trim the edges of the PnP quite close to the edges of the pattern - during ironing, the free edges of the pattern will tend to warp and can cause adhesion problems with traces near the edge.
pnp on paper.jpg
pnp on paper.jpg (10.3 KiB) Viewed 20585 times

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:33 am

Have made numerous PCboards and found the PULSAR Toner Transfer paper very user friendly.
Experimented using some .006 traces with good sucess. NOT PIRATICAL IMO
For etching found 1 part Muratic acid to 2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide works very well and much cheaper than that icky brown stuff. With the Muratic acid/Hyd Peroxide mix you can see your progress.
If you buy some product from Pulsar you can get FREE copper Clad boards 1x or 2x.
As for software found EXPRESSPCB to be very friendly, short learning curve with good results.
To do a double sided board, use CUTE PDF printer download to mirro your design.

User avatar
brad
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2578
Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:30 pm
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by brad » Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:32 pm

Thanks for the tips there MrDEB,

Making PCB's at home is certainly an art, and one that I have not mastered just yet...

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:04 am

Here is a link that was suggested to me.
Improved my pcboard designs.


http://www.alternatezone.com/electronic ... alRevA.pdf

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:40 am

downloaded DIPTRACE
will give it a try.
Looks easy enough.
Played with simple schematic
Now to figure out how to print only the bottom or top traces without the parts outline.

User avatar
bitfogav
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 915
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by bitfogav » Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:07 am

I always use the Preview symbol which opens up the preview window of your PCB, in here you can un-select the objects that you dont want to be visible, and then print out what you want :)
preveiwww.jpg
preveiwww.jpg (107.61 KiB) Viewed 20531 times

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:15 am

Getting the hang of it.
Is there a command to tell it to only do a 1x board or just do the routing myself?
The auto placement is not the best as well as the auto route.

Locating parts will take some getting used to.
Tried looking for a 18F4520 using the search binoculars but ?
Looks like a promising program as it will do gerber files where as express pcb won't.
I wonder if it as a schematic capture where a schematic can be pasted from say Paint?

User avatar
brad
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2578
Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:30 pm
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by brad » Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:58 pm

It's a great program although I don't really like the auto route function.

I have always just routed them myself. apart from that, It is still the preferred PCB program :)

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:07 pm

IMO most people are using EAGLE.
I tried on several occasions the EAGLE software and come away with the idea that
"I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN LEARN EAGLE"
DIPTRACE looks liker it works rather well.
Going to make a pattern of my PDB-40 (Pic Development Board using a 40 pin PIC)
Very similar to the Tap-28 and is pin for pin compatible for daughter boards but has more LEDs, no UART/I2C port headers (they are for a daughter board but thinking of adding a slide switch so one could use the ICSP for programing AND UART
here is a picture of my latest board
needs to be trimmed and finished drilling.
Attachments
dev board.png
dev board.png (1.29 MiB) Viewed 20523 times

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:42 am

here is the file for my latest pIC developement board using a 40 pin pic.
Done in DIPTRACE. Schematic only as I havn't got to a board design yet.
well so much for that idea
What file format can I upload? from DIPTRACE

User avatar
brad
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2578
Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:30 pm
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by brad » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:53 am

You need to first zip the file and then you can upload it.

Nice board you've designed by the way :)

MrDEB
I practically live here!
I practically live here!
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:24 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: Making your own PCB - Printed Circuit Boards

Post by MrDEB » Fri Feb 25, 2011 2:08 am

here is my schematic and beginnings of my PCboard design.(new to DIPTRACE)
Attachments
Pcb.zip
(2.45 MiB) Downloaded 646 times
PDB-40-2-22-2011.zip
(16.93 KiB) Downloaded 647 times

Post Reply
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests