jrz126
Active Member
Ok guys,
I'm making some progress in making the PCB for my LEDs. I'm getting ready to put in my order, and I've got some questions (I'll underline them). I was planning on going with Electronics xpress, but they are slow to respond. So I think I'm gonna switch to Digikey.
I dont think Digikey sells any sort of etchant chemicals though. So I might just have to go with ferric chloride from radio shack. (it's at a good price and I dont have to pay shipping on it)
I've read and have been told to use Ammonium persulfate. Is there a major advangtage to using this? Also, does this chemical have other uses that would make it pretty easy to pick up locally?
Here's what I plan to order:
3 - 6"x9" double sided boards (1/16 thickness). for $6.57 each.
200 - 82 ohm resistors (for current limiting, I only need 62, but I'm sure I'll use the others for other LED projects) $4.72 total for these
4' of clear and 4' of black 1/8" heatshrink tubing. $0.88 each.
Are there any other tools, or anything else that I should buy that would help in making the pcb?
I might be able to have my dad take the board to work and drill it on a $150k cnc machine. If I cant however, I'll have to use my drill press and drill the holes by hand. There is a local Harbor Freight store, which should have the drill bits for a decent price.
For the VIA's in the board, is it worth it to try to find those little insert things, or should I just try to slop some solder inside there? I'm gonna have the some pieces of leads left over from the LED's when I solder the wire to them, so I think I'll try sticking these in the VIA's and putting solder on them and trim them as necessary. to try to get them as flush as possible. any suggestions?
Oh yeah, I dont have any sort of desoldering tool (I have one of those spring loaded suction things, but it doesnt work too great) which type is the best?
Hope you guys can help me out.
[/u]
I'm making some progress in making the PCB for my LEDs. I'm getting ready to put in my order, and I've got some questions (I'll underline them). I was planning on going with Electronics xpress, but they are slow to respond. So I think I'm gonna switch to Digikey.
I dont think Digikey sells any sort of etchant chemicals though. So I might just have to go with ferric chloride from radio shack. (it's at a good price and I dont have to pay shipping on it)
I've read and have been told to use Ammonium persulfate. Is there a major advangtage to using this? Also, does this chemical have other uses that would make it pretty easy to pick up locally?
Here's what I plan to order:
3 - 6"x9" double sided boards (1/16 thickness). for $6.57 each.
200 - 82 ohm resistors (for current limiting, I only need 62, but I'm sure I'll use the others for other LED projects) $4.72 total for these
4' of clear and 4' of black 1/8" heatshrink tubing. $0.88 each.
Are there any other tools, or anything else that I should buy that would help in making the pcb?
I might be able to have my dad take the board to work and drill it on a $150k cnc machine. If I cant however, I'll have to use my drill press and drill the holes by hand. There is a local Harbor Freight store, which should have the drill bits for a decent price.
For the VIA's in the board, is it worth it to try to find those little insert things, or should I just try to slop some solder inside there? I'm gonna have the some pieces of leads left over from the LED's when I solder the wire to them, so I think I'll try sticking these in the VIA's and putting solder on them and trim them as necessary. to try to get them as flush as possible. any suggestions?
Oh yeah, I dont have any sort of desoldering tool (I have one of those spring loaded suction things, but it doesnt work too great) which type is the best?
Hope you guys can help me out.
[/u]