PCB's art + function

[G Bulmer]

I liked this thread at electronics.stackexchange

People have identified PCBs which look more than simply functional.
Some do not work, and are repurposing of the material. Others are functional:
http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/4333/what-is-the-most-amazing-pcb-artwork-youve-ever-seen

We could make our own PCBs?

[Thomas Hodson]

Has anyone ever tried the toner transfer method? Etching some PCBs sounds like a really good idea for a fizzpop group activity.

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[G Bulmer]

Tom - I have not used toner transfer.

I do know a guy who does use toner transfer, and this is some of his work:
http://we.easyelectronics.ru/uploads/images/00/22/11/2012/01/09/acc84a.jpg
http://we.easyelectronics.ru/uploads/images/00/22/11/2012/01/09/cf9d56.jpg

It is a single sided PCB for an ARM (STM32F) processor, the pins on the processor are on 0.5mm pitch.

He can get 0.15mm track and space (about 0.006 of an inch), and is working on reaching 0.1mm (about 0.004 of an inch).

He sent a link to these examples of using toner transfer, which use a  different technique.
http://we.easyelectronics.ru/uploads/images/00/22/11/2012/01/09/cf9d56.jpg

The image is printed onto aluminium foil, and the foil is 'ironed on' to the PCB, but not peeled off, it is etched off. It isn't necessarily more reliable (he says less than 1/2 the images on the foil are usable), but the fineness of line is outstanding.

There are 'commercial' 'press-and-peel' toner transfer systems, but the ones I've seen are sufficiently expensive that I don't use them.

Everyone else I know (including me :-) uses photosensitive PCB's and laser printed stencils. The results are pretty good.
I have the offer of the use a 'proper' etching tank, and UV exposure box. The etching tank is noticeably better than traditional Ferric Chloride trays (sharper edges, finer lines). So if folks wanted to convert a design to a PCB, and could wait a few days, I could use that process for them.

The tricky parts are keeping everything very clean when exposing the board, and getting a good UV exposure time.
I could UV-expose the board, and we do the etching at fizzPop by hand. The chemicals should be properly disposed of, not just down a sink.

I've also done 'hand etching' with photosensitive PCB. My chum David had his UV box calibrated, so it was very straightforward.

Folks can draw directly onto PCB material using an etch resist pen, e.g.:
http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/Etch-Resist-Pen-34-0300/?source=googleps&utm_source=googleps
I did that (a while ago) at school. Much cruder than laser printed stencils, but very direct technology. Okay for transistor circuits, but would need quite a lot of care for integrated circuits.

When I was a kid, we had sets of sticky-down outlines for ICs from Letraset, but I haven't found those.

GB-)

 

On Sunday, April 1, 2012 9:46:02 PM UTC+1, Tom wrote:

Has anyone ever tried the toner transfer method? Etching some PCBs sounds like a really good idea for a fizzpop group activity.

[Thomas Hodson]

For the benefitof others, the more well known method of toner transfer involves laser printing (relies on the use of toner rather than ink) the design onto glossy paper (usually just the pages of a magazine) ironing the paper toner-side down onto the board and then soaking the paper in water until it can be peeled of leaving just the attached to the board to act as etch resist.Unfortunately, selecting the right paper, printing onto it and then getting it off the board without ruining the toner are all quite difficult.

 I'd never heard of using aluminium, eliminating the need to peel anything away from the toner sounds like it would make the process more painless. I'd like to know how he gets the printer to print to the foil, does he attach it to a piece of paper first?

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[Bill Bigge]

I have a small uv box I can lend the group (When I get back after easter)

Bill.

[Andrew Thomas]

Garry,

I've done 0.1" ic connections with an etch resistant pen. It worked quite well with the copper really clean, but not the best system like you say. I've seen nice rub on transfers advertised in nuts'n'volts a couple of years ago, but this company sells some if anyone wants some:

http://www.megauk.com/artwork_aids.php

Andrew.

[Ptolom]

What a coincidence. I'm just getting into making PCBs at home. In fact I
have ferric chloride stains on my hands as I type. I have a homemade UV
box which seems to work pretty well. The tricky part seems to be getting
a decent crisp pattern in the resist.
If Fizzpop is going to be making PCBs I could bring in my UV box and
chemicals to see if anybody can get it working.

[Sarah Mount]

This sounds fantastic! Next week is Lockpicking Wednesday, how about
the week after that?

Sarah

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[G Bulmer]

Yes, I could probably do that.
We need a laser-printed stencil. Either I could bring one, or we could make it there is we can get access to a laser printer.
We also need film. Proper PCB film is best, but printable "OHP" transparency film works.

On Thursday, April 5, 2012 8:15:52 PM UTC+1, snim2 wrote:

This sounds fantastic! Next week is Lockpicking Wednesday, how about
the week after that?

Sarah

[Sarah Mount]

Are we talking at cross purposes here? I was suggesting that Ptolem
could bring along his UV box and so forth and people might help get it
all working. I think the email is on the thread below:

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[Bill Bigge]

If I can make it (not sure at the moment) I can bring along my UV box -
I also think I have some PCB transparencies designed for inkjet printers
rather than lasers (will have to check though)

I also have a toaster oven, some SMD PCB's and a solder paste stencil.
It would be a bit tricky bringing the toaster oven all the way to Bham
(I'm in Stratford on Avon) but if people are interested I might be able
to bring the stencil and other bits along ...

Bill

[G Bulmer]

Sarah

I am lost
What are you expecting (if anything) will happen tomorrow about this?

On Friday, April 6, 2012 12:15:51 PM UTC+1, snim2 wrote:

Are we talking at cross purposes here? I was suggesting that Ptolem
could bring along his UV box and so forth and people might help get it
all working. I think the email is on the thread below:

> To post to this group, send email to birmingham-hack-space@googlegroups.com.

> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to

> birmingham-hack-space+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

> For more options, visit this group at
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[G Bulmer]

Bill

I'm not coming tonight, a friend needs help moving furniture.
I have a toaster oven a temperature probe, which I coudl dbring along next week.

GB

On Friday, April 6, 2012 12:53:00 PM UTC+1, Bill Bigge wrote:

If I can make it (not sure at the moment) I can bring along my UV box -
I also think I have some PCB transparencies designed for inkjet printers
rather than lasers (will have to check though)

I also have a toaster oven, some SMD PCB's and a solder paste stencil.
It would be a bit tricky bringing the toaster oven all the way to Bham
(I'm in Stratford on Avon) but if people are interested I might be able
to bring the stencil and other bits along ...

Bill

On 06/04/2012 12:15, Sarah Mount wrote:
> Are we talking at cross purposes here? I was suggesting that Ptolem
> could bring along his UV box and so forth and people might help get it
> all working. I think the email is on the thread below:
>

>> To post to this group, send email to birmingham-hack-space@googlegroups.com.

>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to

>> birmingham-hack-space+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Bill Bigge]

Unfortunatly I can't make it either. Got a little too much on this week.

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[Bill Bigge]

Garry, et al.

Next week is tricky for me as well - I've got a deadline for a job (robot research platform design and build for Sussex Uni) at the end of this month.

I am very keen to come along and do some PCB stuff so if we can organise something for next month - sufficiently in advance for me to book myself in irrevocably - then I would be very happy to commit and turn up with some PCB kit.

I can bring along some surface mount PCB's with a stencil, solder paste and components to demonstrate the assembly process. At a push I could bring my toaster oven but I don't have a temperature probe - I use the 'Switch it on until the solder melts' method so if Garry could bring his then it would help, and we could then go through the whole assembly process for those who are interested.

As I said before, I also have a UV box (it is a 'proper' if slightly small PCB UV box) I can bring, and a totally rubbish PCB drill (it vibrates like crazy). To add to this I also have a very old, probably rather rare but unused manual through hole plating kit which can be employed for doing double sided boards - so if people wanted to play around with etching boards then we could do that as well, provided someone can supply the chemicals, and the UV masks for a suitable project board.

The surface mount PCB boards I can bring for demo purposes are prototypes for a nifty little robotics product I am about to launch so if we do manage to organise an ad-hoc PCB fabrication workshop/demo, then I can also demo my up-coming product - those of you who met me the one and only time I came to a fizz-pop meeting may remember the 'clever robot wheel' prototype I brought along, well I now have production samples fresh from China to show off ...

I would add that although I am happy to turn up with a load of stuff on the day, ready to do hand's on demonstrations and participate in general tinkering, I don't have oodles of time to actually organise a 'proper' workshop or take charge of anything at the moment - if someone else wants to be organised about it them please just tell me what to bring, where to go and when to turn up, and I'll try and oblige ! ;)

Bill

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