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OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - space-time - 06-06-2011
when I was a kid I used to attend an Electronics club where we would make Printed Ciruit Boards using some special ink or sometimes a fine marker (but that didn't always work very well) and then etching the Copper in an acid bath.
I would like to make a few simple PCB boards sometime in the future (no immediate plans) and I wonder what is the best method these days.
Or is there an online shop that will make custom PCBs for a very reasonable charge? I don't need anything fancy, just 2 sided, maybe 4"x6" at most. It would be very nice if they would also drill them.
Thanks
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - haikuman - 06-06-2011
First you have to design the machine/equipment and the software to run the machine to make the
PCB Boards *(:>*
Rudie
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - space-time - 06-06-2011
from a quick search seems like I could just use a laser printer and print on glossy paper or Transparency then transfer to the PCB board with a hot iron.
I guess it's easier than I thought.
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - cbelt3 - 06-06-2011
space-
I'd shout out to microchip.. I believe he's done some prototyping recently.
I had similar experience in the 70's and 80's, but it's been 20+ years since I made my last one. There are a large number of prototyping shops out there who will happily make you a prototype board or two or a hundred. However.. they will want a layout and drill diagram in the appropriate industry standard format (dunno what it is), and so forth.
The other question is.. through hole or surface mount ? Most PCB's nowadays are SMT.
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - space-time - 06-06-2011
cbelt3 wrote:
space-
I'd shout out to microchip.. I believe he's done some prototyping recently.
I had similar experience in the 70's and 80's, but it's been 20+ years since I made my last one. There are a large number of prototyping shops out there who will happily make you a prototype board or two or a hundred. However.. they will want a layout and drill diagram in the appropriate industry standard format (dunno what it is), and so forth.
The other question is.. through hole or surface mount ? Most PCB's nowadays are SMT.
Thanks, I didn't think of microchip... his username should have reminded me. He doesn't seem to post much lately. Definitely less than microchip13
Regarding the mounting, I guess holes. I am not sure what is easier though.
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - Shakes - 06-06-2011
My son who's 18 now found a guy that helps out hobbyist by ganging multiple project from people, gangs them together and makes 3 copies of each PCB. My son's total cost is usually under $20 for a set of 3 matching boards. It's a great deal and the guy is helping out the hobbyist and making a few bucks on the side. His email is james.neal@laen.org. If you need help with the process just send me a PM.
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - cbelt3 - 06-06-2011
space-
SMT soldering is HARD for the hobbyist. It's *possible* to solder SMT components by hand, but... ick. Stick with the through hole if you can. SMT works when you go to heavy production.. parts are cheaper, automated assembly is easier, etc... And the parts are smaller.
Shakes.. nice.
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - space-time - 06-06-2011
Shakes wrote:
My son who's 18 now found a guy that helps out hobbyist by ganging multiple project from people, gangs them together and makes 3 copies of each PCB. My son's total cost is usually under $20 for a set of 3 matching boards. It's a great deal and the guy is helping out the hobbyist and making a few bucks on the side. His email is james.neal@laen.org. If you need help with the process just send me a PM.
Thanks a lot, excellent info. I knew that asking here would be better than looking up random links in Google. This is what I love about this forum.
I will contact him (and PM you if needed) when I have something ready. Like I said, this is not in my immediate plans. Do you know how large were those boards that your son got?
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - Shakes - 06-06-2011
I wasn't keeping track of board size but I think they were small. You can make any size you want and he charges by the square inch.
Re: OT: anyone here making PCB boards? - decay - 06-06-2011
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_circuit_board
printed circuit board boards?