How to etch PCBs with a PCB pen.

[David Morris]

Does anyone know of a way of etching PCBs (from plans printed off a
computer) using a PCB pen (the kind you get in budget PCB-etch sets).
I'm having problems lining up the tracks accurately enough to fit things
like ICs in.

Thanks in advance

David Morris

 

[Andrew Howard]

Never thought about this before, but maybe you could use carbon paper under
the printout (with everything over the pcb), go over it with pencil, and the
remove the paper and draw over the markings on the PCB with the PCB Pen.

"David Morris" <davidr.morris@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:nZ1%a.284$J24.190316@newsfep1-win.server.ntli.net...

Does anyone know of a way of etching PCBs (from plans printed off a
computer) using a PCB pen (the kind you get in budget PCB-etch sets).
I'm having problems lining up the tracks accurately enough to fit things
like ICs in.

Thanks in advance

David Morris

 

[John Popelish]

David Morris wrote:

Does anyone know of a way of etching PCBs (from plans printed off a
computer) using a PCB pen (the kind you get in budget PCB-etch sets).
I'm having problems lining up the tracks accurately enough to fit things
like ICs in.

I can only do it by connecting the dots. If I am making my own
layout, I draw it on .1 inch grid paper, to keep spaces accurate. I
tape the layout over the clad board, and use an automatic center punch
(when you push down on it, a tiny internal hammer is spring loaded and
released to make a little impact at the point) to mark the location of
each hole. Then I remove the artwork, and put it beside the board,
and draw the pattern from dot to dot. After the board is etched, I
drill the holes, which are more accurate, because of the punches, and
then use a bit of solvent (I think acetone or fingernail polish
remover works) on a rag to remove the resist, before soldering parts
on.

I have never attempted to lay out a board with a pen that was intended
for surface mount parts.
--
John Popelish

 

[John Popelish]

Frank Pickens wrote:

John Popelish wrote:

David Morris wrote:

Does anyone know of a way of etching PCBs (from plans printed off a
computer) using a PCB pen (the kind you get in budget PCB-etch sets).
I'm having problems lining up the tracks accurately enough to fit things
like ICs in.

I can only do it by connecting the dots. If I am making my own
layout, I draw it on .1 inch grid paper, to keep spaces accurate. I
tape the layout over the clad board, and use an automatic center punch
(when you push down on it, a tiny internal hammer is spring loaded and
released to make a little impact at the point) to mark the location of
each hole.
(snip)

Do you have a brand or possibly a supplier for the automatic center punch ??

This is the one I use:
http://www.bizave.com/bstore/itemid__home_improvement__B000004THH7R.html
--
John Popelish

 

[Bob Masta]

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:44:26 GMT, Frank Pickens
<frankpickens@verizon.net> wrote:

John,
Do you have a brand or possibly a supplier for the automatic center punch ??
Many thanks,
Frank

In the shop where I used to work, we had those push-punches
used for general machine-shop work. They were too powerful
for PCBs; we got much better results from a "sctratch awl"
(ice pick sorta thing) and a light tap with a selected wooden
block or stick. (We all had our own favorite heft pieces of wood.)

My PCB advice is pretty similar to John's. I've put it all
together at <www.daqarta.com/lptxh.htm>, including
tips about using dental burs in Dremel tools instead of
drill bits, and adjusting the ferric chloride concentration
(too *strong* and it slows down etching!).


Bob Masta
dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom

D A Q A R T A
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
Shareware from Interstellar Research
www.daqarta.com

 

[JeffM]

...etching PCBs (from plans printed off a computer)
using a PCB pen
David Morris

Why aren't you using iron-on toner-transfer and
Press-n-Peel or clay-covered paper
like everybody else?

If you don't have a laser printer,
uou can photocopy the layout for < 10 cents at Kinko's.

 

[John Popelish]

Bob Masta wrote:

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:44:26 GMT, Frank Pickens
frankpickens@verizon.net> wrote:

John,
Do you have a brand or possibly a supplier for the automatic center punch ??
Many thanks,
Frank

In the shop where I used to work, we had those push-punches
used for general machine-shop work. They were too powerful
for PCBs; we got much better results from a "sctratch awl"
(ice pick sorta thing) and a light tap with a selected wooden
block or stick. (We all had our own favorite heft pieces of wood.)

My automatic center punch is completely adjustable, allowing the
impact ot be adjusted all the way to essentially zero. Just turn the
rear end of the punch to adjust the spring trip compression.

--
John Popelish

 

[JeffM]

too expensive ...$30 in Australia for a sheet
Andrew Howard

Cheap alternative with fair results; search for "clay":
http://www.webelectricmagazine.com/98/3/etch.htm

search for "glossy":
http://jamaica.ee.pitt.edu/Archives/NewsGroupArchives/sci.electronics.cad/Jul2000/sci.electronics.cad.34186.txt

I have used glossy ads that were mailed to me (one side blank)
--totally free.
Magazine pages with large blank areas also work well
--any page will work,
but inspection is difficult with complex background patterns.