Make your own PCB's

Azerik · Hardcore Band Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 326

Does anyone know a good resource on what is needed and where to get the stuff to make your own Printed Circuit Boards?

I did this back in high school in my electronics class, but we had a dark room and full on etching machine and whatnot. It was also 20+ years ago, so while I remember the basic ideas, something with detailed instructions would be nice.

I looked at a couple of the sites I use for electronic parts and they have everything I need, but no real coherent advice on exactly which of those 17,429 things I need to have. I just want to be able to occasionally make my own PCB when need arises. I wanted to try and make my own strum mod for the MC full size strat to see if I could get rid of that irritating CLICK every time I strum.

I'm sure I could do it with a breadboard, but having a real PCB would be a much more elegant solution.
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jgrills · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:05 pm Post subject:

A breadboard is used for rapid prototyping and isn't a long-term solution. It lets you test a circuit out and get it working before committing it to a circuit board.

I've never had to make my own PCB and I've build quite a few circuits over the years. You can nearly always get by with a pre-made PCB, connect everything you need, and solder in jumpers to connect components. Go to www.radioshack.com and search for "board" and you'll see a lot of good options for small circuits.

But if you want to learn to make them, this looks to be a good collection of the various methods:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/01/how_to_make_printed_circu.html
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jgrills · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:53 pm Post subject:

I saw this the other day, and finally had a chance to go back and find the link. It's some free schematic and PCB layout software from a service that allows you to upload your design and they'll make the PCB and send it to you.

http://www.expresspcb.com/

I have some circuitry to pack in a tight space soon (including 2 @ 8 pin ICs), so I'm going to try out their software to lay out a board efficiently. I'm not sure how I'll construct it yet, but I'll most likely put the circuit on a cut-down Radio Shack 276-150 PCB keeping the middle 8 rows, and then just jumper where necessary.
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Azerik · Hardcore Band Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 326

When I said breadboard I was thinking not of the jumper-wire thick ones they sell at "The Shack" but the PCB's with banks of holes in it to test actual mounting arrangements of components. I assume you need to use wire or solder bridges to make connections depending on the design of the board.

In the Make article compilation I did find one technique that will probably work for me. It will be a bit crude, but I think it will work for my purposes. If I thought there was enough demand out there I would invest in a more professional looking approach, but this is probably going to just be a one-off for my own personal use.

Now I just have to hunt around for a supply of etchant (etchent?).

Thanks for the assist.
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Primeguey · Band Member Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Posts: 28 Location: Peoria

and speaking of which. whatever happenned to that monthly magazine that had templates in it for projects every month and you just had to xerox it onto a clear sheet and then transfer it, and poor on your solution and wah laa , home made pcb .
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Azerik · Hardcore Band Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 326

Likely that was Make. I have only seen a few issues of it, so I don't know if they ever had monthly pcb templates, but they do have all sorts of interesting stuff in there.

Jameco Electronics also sent me an email the other day with a video link in it to a guy from Make showing how to make your own pcb. Make has a YouTube channel with it posted in there somewhere. Next time I'm there and think of it I'll come post the link.
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MrTyK · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 3:33 pm Post subject:

There are some good PCB suppliers online that I've come across.
I was talking with my local Radio Shack guy and he informed me that they do stock a dould sided copper clad board and the etch solution.
They also carry a circuit mender pen that "draws" a copper trace .
Good for repairs (maybe mods?).
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jgrills · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject:

I was at Fry's the other day and I saw a complete PCB making kit for approximately $40, for what it's worth.
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