beginner board etching - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

daviddoria · 22nd April 2003, 02:15 AM

i bought this little kit at radio shack to make your own circuit boards.

what the instructions refer to as a "resist ink" pen seems to be an ordinary Sharpe. is this correct?

also the boards it came with are double sided.. would you ever have a double sided board?

other than that seems very straight forward.

Gene · 22nd April 2003, 02:57 AM

I have seen the pens and they do look just like a Sharpe. By double sided I assume you mean it has copper foil on both sides. That sounds a little strange for Radio Shack but I have used these for RF circuits.

daviddoria · 22nd April 2003, 03:11 AM

the question still holds though, is it a sharpe or is it special? hehe

also, how would you make use of 2 sides of a board?? how would you mount it?

Mosfet · 22nd April 2003, 03:20 AM

Yes sir, the Sanford Sharpie, a nice new one.
[now don't take one at work like me]
I like nail polish for larger areas.
Two sides lets the connections cross over each other.
Best to draw it first with two colors of pencil.
Your parts leads provide the connection thru the board.

daviddoria · 22nd April 2003, 03:28 AM

so pretty much this $15 kit has about 2 bucks worth of chemicals and 2 bucks worth of copper plates lol. well it was nice to get it all in one kit for the first time hehe.. now i know what to do.

i'll let you know how it turns out.

ps.
can the plastic be used over and over again (the tub)?

Gene · 22nd April 2003, 09:24 PM

David - Did you catch the thread several weeks ago about using a printer? I want to try that!

Mosfet · 22nd April 2003, 10:09 PM

I never used 'the tub'.
I like those baggies you can hold over someone's head.
I put the bag in a tray of hot water [heat helps acid work].
I put all that on top the washer on spin cycle. [vibration helps too]
The trick is getting rid of all the copper you don't want,
before it starts eating thru the copper you want to keep. :evil:

**kinjalgp** · 23rd April 2003, 04:37 AM

Before etching, I tie up my PCB with insulated wire and use it to move the PCB in the FeCl3 solution. This way etching is done in 15 minutes in hot solution. Otherwise it takes more than 3 hours.

Chippie · 23rd April 2003, 08:57 PM

I have a tutorial on making pcb's using the UV transparency method, on here some where I think.......

Any how, here's my tips......

Make sure board is clean and grease free prior to drawing pattern.

I make my Fecl3 up as a batch.......250gm of xtals/pellets etc to 500ml of water.

When ready to etch board, warm solution in microwave oven, 10 secs at a time til its warm( 40deg C )

Place board in suitable container with pre warmed solution.....agitate gently.rock to and fro, warm as necessary in m/wave oven to maintain temparature.....

Upon completion of etching, wash board, then plate with tin plate solution.

Pilot · 24th April 2003, 09:49 AM

Here is the link to Chippie's DIY PCB...

http://www.electro-tech-online.com/viewtopic.php?t=825

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22nd April 2003, 02:15 AM	(permalink)
daviddoria	beginner board etching i bought this little kit at radio shack to make your own circuit boards. what the instructions refer to as a "resist ink" pen seems to be an ordinary Sharpe. is this correct? also the boards it came with are double sided.. would you ever have a double sided board? other than that seems very straight forward. __________________ thanks, david

22nd April 2003, 02:57 AM	(permalink)
Gene	I have seen the pens and they do look just like a Sharpe. By double sided I assume you mean it has copper foil on both sides. That sounds a little strange for Radio Shack but I have used these for RF circuits.

22nd April 2003, 03:11 AM	(permalink)
daviddoria	the question still holds though, is it a sharpe or is it special? hehe also, how would you make use of 2 sides of a board?? how would you mount it? __________________ thanks, david

22nd April 2003, 03:20 AM	(permalink)
Mosfet	Yes sir, the Sanford Sharpie, a nice new one. [now don't take one at work like me] I like nail polish for larger areas. Two sides lets the connections cross over each other. Best to draw it first with two colors of pencil. Your parts leads provide the connection thru the board.

22nd April 2003, 03:28 AM	(permalink)
daviddoria	so pretty much this $15 kit has about 2 bucks worth of chemicals and 2 bucks worth of copper plates lol. well it was nice to get it all in one kit for the first time hehe.. now i know what to do. i'll let you know how it turns out. ps. can the plastic be used over and over again (the tub)? __________________ thanks, david

22nd April 2003, 09:24 PM	(permalink)
Gene	David - Did you catch the thread several weeks ago about using a printer? I want to try that!

22nd April 2003, 10:09 PM	(permalink)
Mosfet	I never used 'the tub'. I like those baggies you can hold over someone's head. I put the bag in a tray of hot water [heat helps acid work]. I put all that on top the washer on spin cycle. [vibration helps too] The trick is getting rid of all the copper you don't want, before it starts eating thru the copper you want to keep. :evil:

23rd April 2003, 04:37 AM	(permalink)
kinjalgp	Before etching, I tie up my PCB with insulated wire and use it to move the PCB in the FeCl3 solution. This way etching is done in 15 minutes in hot solution. Otherwise it takes more than 3 hours. __________________ "There is no way to peace, peace is the way!"

23rd April 2003, 08:57 PM	(permalink)
Chippie	I have a tutorial on making pcb's using the UV transparency method, on here some where I think....... Any how, here's my tips...... Make sure board is clean and grease free prior to drawing pattern. I make my Fecl3 up as a batch.......250gm of xtals/pellets etc to 500ml of water. When ready to etch board, warm solution in microwave oven, 10 secs at a time til its warm( 40deg C ) Place board in suitable container with pre warmed solution.....agitate gently.rock to and fro, warm as necessary in m/wave oven to maintain temparature..... Upon completion of etching, wash board, then plate with tin plate solution.

24th April 2003, 09:49 AM	(permalink)
Pilot	Here is the link to Chippie's DIY PCB... http://www.electro-tech-online.com/viewtopic.php?t=825 __________________ All i\'s dotted & all t\'s crossed.