Who etch their own PC Boards

[tj]

How many of you guys etch your own pc boards?.I know This thread is a
little off on tangent but it does go well with our research and
development for our electronics. I had to go off on a tangent this
weekend to design and make the breakout/distribution board for all the
electronics and driver boards,arduino etc.

The reason I ask ,I had this idea in my head a long time .After some
research this weekend I was surprised to see that there are a few out
there that use this method .

This method involves a small A4 pen plotter (flatbed or roll) .You
gou straight from your favorite cad > hpgl (Hewlett packard graphic
language ) > plot right on your pc board . Etch it and your done.

Mann!! I love this process. I use to spend hundreds of dollars on all
kinds of photo etching stuff before. And did I mention it was quick.
You can even plot straight out of EAGLE ( PCB Cad.).

I think I will make a gategory for this under our electronics section
too. Post some vids. etc.
It is so cool man! The other cool thing about it is this, After you
etch the traces on the bottom, flip the board ,re-insert in the
plotter ,now plot the silkscreen schematic in any color of you
choice!...
TJ.



) Imany is using this

[George Stephans]

see this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFQ3wjwKZP4&list=UUyb-ThgB4Dx8TWq3rJHpmRA&index=12&feature=plcp

I have this process worked out masking with spray paint and masking with a laser cutter, from eagle.

[4Ddabbler]

I've seen a similar video on laser based PCB masking for etching
previously and it looks like a great way to mask and pre-etch a PCB to
get razor sharp track-ways definition. I am hoping to finally buy a
decent sized industrial CO2 laser head (at least > 35W to perhaps
100W...) to add to my home lab gear soon so I can try this method of
PCB fab processing and also assist build-up and parts fabrication of
some other projects. Sorry I haven't been hanging around as much
lately guys. I am planning to do some follow-up posts and commentary
on some of the stuff I was mentioning last summer before the group
discussion started to fizzle down and sort of go skewed.

[Dave Cowden]

Hi, TJ:

I use eagle, and this proccess:

(1) draw in eagle

(2) save to image

(3) print on glossy inkjet printer paper on a _laserjet_ printer.

(4) iron paper onto single-sided board with household iron ( unless you'll get in trouble from wife )

(5) 2:1 mixture of muratic acid from homedpot and warm water
(5) rubber gloves and eye protection-- swish board in the mix

done!

HTH

Dave

[Steven Finkelman]

with a laser cutter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFQ3wjwKZP4&list=UUyb-ThgB4Dx8TWq3rJHpmRA&index=12&feature=plcp