Making PCBs with magazine's paper

[Dido]

Haha I`ve been using this method for making PCB`s for year and more.There are a little secrets for making these PCB`s.


First for me I`ve tried so many types of paper but I think that the best one is Ink Tec`s Premium photo paper.

The most important process is the ironing most of people say that the PCB should be ironed for 2 or 3 minutes at full temp. That`s not true because in most ot the photo papers there is around 40% of Polypropylen and Polyethilen when you fry the paper with such temperatures the plastic in the paper stick on the PCB and happens nothing the best temp for is 140 degrees.

Putting the board in water is a mistake because you will remove the paper harder than if you try removing it gentle when it`s dry.

If there are broken tracks you can fix them by redrawing them with a permanent ink or straight a permanent marker I use Schneider S303.
After that you can put it in the FeCl3 and etch it.

I know other methods for really fast etching for about 1.5~3 minute etching using electrolysis but I`m going to write a topic about that method Has someone ever experienced with that method? ???

Hope I`ve helped you :

 

[trigger]

I hear someone using concentrated Sulphuric Acid to have fast etching of PCB .

Personally I haven't try because it is very corrosive.... very danger for diy..... so I prefer to wait for 15 minutes

 

[Dido]

No I mean electrolysis

Here it is how it works

You get an old car battery you take the electrolyte then you mix 1 liter of the electrolyte with 300ml of distiled water (30%).Then you put the liquid in a tub you put the plus electrode to the copper which has to be eaten away and you use for a minus electrode a piece of I`m not really sure which is the best metal I`ve tried with lead but I think that the electrode should be made of Zinc I haven`t got zinc very much so I used Lead.After that you should have a really Powerful power supply because at 24Volts I measured 23.7 Amps and the power transistors of my Bench Top PSU got really hot I think I could have frien an egg on the radiator but after 3 minutes the copper was almost gone. Then you put the board in regular acid or FeCl3 for final eating away and that`s it.There other ways for making a board.For me I etch my boards with FeCl3 or Nitrogen Acid.

I prefer the ordinary way.

 

[ante1]

Dido,

I sound to me like you should wear a rubber suit, heavy gloves, respirator and safety goggles for this job! The liquid in an old battery is not what I would call environmentally correct, you should stay away from it. Have you tried to heat the FeCl3 to about 50 C, this will speed up the process quite a bit. I recommend the goggles and a well-ventilated room (outdoors is the best) to any of the etching fluids.

Take Care!

 

[Dido]

Ante

don`t worry the electrolyte consists of Sulphuric Acid and distiled water the standard is 60% Sulphuric Acid and 40% Water of course different manufacturers add other chemicals to lengthen the life of the battery.I should be more worried when I start the electrolysis process because there are fumes that evaporate these fumes are very dangerous for the human beings and also hydrogen which is evaporated can be dangerous because it can explode if it`s quantity is more.

You know I don`t like this way of making PCB`s as you say it`s more dangerous.I use many chemicals in my lab I make fluxes and other interesting ventures.

Here is a photo of my glass-ware - a little messed up in the ceiling.

View attachment 35776

 

[trigger]

Hey Dido

You have very good equipment for playing with chemical.....

For me, I only use plastic box to etch my PCB at home.... :-[

At office, there is a tank of etching solution, but it is slow and dirty........

 

[Dido]

sasi

why don`t you try this link
http://w1.859.telia.com/~u85920178/left_pcb.htm :-[

 

[12412]

wow that is so coooooooooooooooooooool
[move] ;D[/move]

 

[12412]

how long has this methoid been around ???

 

[12412]

anyone ??? ??? ??? ??? help ??? ??? ??? ???

 

[gg4rest]

Just thought I would post this link. It seemed relevant and quite descriptive on how to use a laser printer with some paper from staples.

http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm

 

[amitko]

It is possible with 200 g/m^2 glanc paper also...the result is perfect...

 

[gogo2520]

I  found  That site useful
http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm

Black and White Laser Printers are cheep. I buy mine at TigerDirect.com, They have alot of refub's for under a 100 bucks.

The boards i make are small so the paper  I use, I first cut down in size something like  4 by 5 inches. 

As far a removing the paper off the board after ironing, Soaking in warm soapy water works but is a little slow. I was thinking of try something like wall paper remover to see if that speeds things up.

Have fun gogo

 

[gogo2520]

  I tried a lot of different paper for making PCB's, Tried Photo Paper with good resluts but it took to long to soak the paper off then I read the magizine Post.
    I used to work for a printing company and seen a lot of different paper. So I tried some high gloss paper that they used in the prof department. Found the perfect paper and its common. Made by Hammermill. Called OfficeOne  Business Gloss 32lb .
Staples handles it,  bought a 300 count rem for 8 dallors.
    It works great haven't had any pit holes. I  laser print, then iron it on the board
( I get it as hot as I can, when it hits the water soak I can hear it sizzle) It only take about a minute to water soak the paper off, and it comes off easy, drill holes and all.
  If you don't have a laser printer and don't want to buy one  most Photo copiers are laser. I f you can find someone to make copies for you see if they have the gloss paper. I have had good luck with local Office supply stores. 

  Good Luck  gogo

 

[bobleny]

I finally did it! YAY! it turned out super crapy! I don't know what I did wrong... I think in part the photo paper I used sucked... My lines whern't thick enough either I don't think. I only made them 3px wide.

I had questions...
The paper stuck to the toner, was it the paper, did I iron to long/short, maybe both?
How many pixels should I make the lines?
How many pixels should the holes be to be able to drill a 1/16" hole?