jrz126
Active Member
Ok, I'm looking into making my own PCB's and I have a bunch of questions (I'm gonna wirte them as I think of them):
1. Does the ferric chloride require extra shipping charges due to it being a chemical? I might just buy from my local radioshack, is it possible for the chemical to lose it's effect over time?
1A. If it doesn't require extra shpping should I order the crystal or liquid?
1b. How much echant is needed to develope a 6.75" X7.25 double sided 1 oz copper board? (it's about 100 sq inches total).
2. How much easier does the "press n peel" paper make it to print these boards? I read about using photo quality paper and even using pages out of magazines, is it significantly easier to use the P&P (easier enough to drop $10 for 5 sheets)?
3. Where's the best place to buy the drill bits?
4. EDIT: What size heatshink tubing should I buy? I'm going to use the tubing over every LED connection that I have to solder. For these connections, I plan on just wrapping the wire (20awg? I salvaged the wire from inside old printer cables, so whatever common size that is) around the lead and putting a glob of solder on it.
5. EDIT #2: I noticed that in my layout, some of the nets for the IC's start on the top layer. How do I solder these on the final board? Do I just put enough solder on the bottom side and hope it connects? Also, Do I have to worry about the the via holes being under some of the IC components? I would think that the solder would get in the way when I go to put the sockets in.
1. Does the ferric chloride require extra shipping charges due to it being a chemical? I might just buy from my local radioshack, is it possible for the chemical to lose it's effect over time?
1A. If it doesn't require extra shpping should I order the crystal or liquid?
1b. How much echant is needed to develope a 6.75" X7.25 double sided 1 oz copper board? (it's about 100 sq inches total).
2. How much easier does the "press n peel" paper make it to print these boards? I read about using photo quality paper and even using pages out of magazines, is it significantly easier to use the P&P (easier enough to drop $10 for 5 sheets)?
3. Where's the best place to buy the drill bits?
4. EDIT: What size heatshink tubing should I buy? I'm going to use the tubing over every LED connection that I have to solder. For these connections, I plan on just wrapping the wire (20awg? I salvaged the wire from inside old printer cables, so whatever common size that is) around the lead and putting a glob of solder on it.
5. EDIT #2: I noticed that in my layout, some of the nets for the IC's start on the top layer. How do I solder these on the final board? Do I just put enough solder on the bottom side and hope it connects? Also, Do I have to worry about the the via holes being under some of the IC components? I would think that the solder would get in the way when I go to put the sockets in.