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equipment:pcbetching
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equipment:pcbetching [2011/11/05 20:09] branth created |
equipment:pcbetching [2015/01/19 18:38] (current) branth [History] |
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| ====== Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Etching Station ====== | ====== Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Etching Station ====== | ||
| ~~NOTOC~~ | ~~NOTOC~~ | ||
| - | {{ : | + | |
| ===== Description ===== | ===== Description ===== | ||
| There are many ways to make your very own printed circuit boards without working for a huge electronics company or a university laboratory. | There are many ways to make your very own printed circuit boards without working for a huge electronics company or a university laboratory. | ||
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| - Design your board in DipTrace or a similar program | - Design your board in DipTrace or a similar program | ||
| - | - Print your design out on a sheet of special laser toner transfer paper | + | - Print your design out on a sheet of special laser toner transfer paper |
| + | - Prepare a blank copper board and wash any debris from the copper using isopropyl alcohol and a rough dish pad (Brillo, etc.) | ||
| - Tape your design to a copper sheet and transfer it by heating the surface and applying pressure (the shirt hot press and badge laminator located by the etching station work great for this) | - Tape your design to a copper sheet and transfer it by heating the surface and applying pressure (the shirt hot press and badge laminator located by the etching station work great for this) | ||
| - Check for breaks in traces and pours, most can be touched up with permanent marker (red seems to work best) | - Check for breaks in traces and pours, most can be touched up with permanent marker (red seems to work best) | ||
| - | - Everything that is not covered up by the iron-on transfer will be consumed by the acid | + | - Everything that is not covered up by the iron-on transfer |
| - | - Etch your board using one of the two methods below | + | - Etch your board using one of the two methods below |
| + | - When finished, remove your board, and wash with water then rub the etch resist off with a dish pad and Goof Off or isopropyl alcohol | ||
| + | - You can also tin plate the copper when finished to | ||
| - Observe chemical safety protocols at all times and if you don't know how to handle something, don't do it! | - Observe chemical safety protocols at all times and if you don't know how to handle something, don't do it! | ||
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| - Hydrogen peroxide is a cheap, common antiseptic | - Hydrogen peroxide is a cheap, common antiseptic | ||
| - When combined, they form a moderately strong acid/ | - When combined, they form a moderately strong acid/ | ||
| - | - Using 1 part muriatic acid to two parts hydrogen peroxide, submerge your board for two to five minutes | + | - Using one part muriatic acid to two parts hydrogen peroxide, submerge your board for two to five minutes |
| - This has been the preferred method since the chemical etching tank was built in September 2011 | - This has been the preferred method since the chemical etching tank was built in September 2011 | ||
| - The etchant will turn green as the copper is dissolved | - The etchant will turn green as the copper is dissolved | ||
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| ===== Available Equipment ===== | ===== Available Equipment ===== | ||
| + | * Techniks-brand Press-N-Peel PCB Transfer Film (blue paper, print on matte finish side, not shiny side!) | ||
| * Hot plate (never operate above ' | * Hot plate (never operate above ' | ||
| * Badge laminator - used for iron-on transfer from laser toner paper | * Badge laminator - used for iron-on transfer from laser toner paper | ||
| Line 41: | Line 45: | ||
| * Laser printer - necessary for PCB transfer paper | * Laser printer - necessary for PCB transfer paper | ||
| * Dremel drill press stands - used for drilling vias and through-holes in completed boards | * Dremel drill press stands - used for drilling vias and through-holes in completed boards | ||
| + | * Chemical etching tank with aerator and aquarium pump | ||
| ===== Available Chemicals ===== | ===== Available Chemicals ===== | ||
| * Muriatic acid - etchant | * Muriatic acid - etchant | ||
| + | * Hydrogen peroxide - oxidizer | ||
| * Ferric chloride - etchant | * Ferric chloride - etchant | ||
| + | * Isopropyl alcohol - cleaner/ | ||
| + | * Paint thinner (acetone) - cleaner | ||
| + | * Ammonia - cleaner | ||
| * Goof Off (xylene) - cleaner | * Goof Off (xylene) - cleaner | ||
| * Tap water - cleaner/ | * Tap water - cleaner/ | ||
| + | * Tin It - tinning solution, helps solder stick easier to the board | ||
| | | ||
| - | Lab | + | Current: Planned for Vault 16, PCB Etching |
| + | Previous: Lab, Chase | ||
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| - | 12/01/10 - Arrived at Makerspace | + | 12/01/10 - Arrived at Makerspace\\ |
| - | 03/15/11 - [[members: | + | 03/15/11 - [[members: |
| - | 09/15/11 - [[members: | + | 09/15/11 - [[members: |
| + | 12/31/12 - Moved to Lenox, originally planned for Vault 16\\ | ||
| + | ??/??/13 - Chemicals located in plastic hood in Wash Sink Room\\ | ||
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equipment/pcbetching.1320523742.txt.gz · Last modified: 2011/11/05 20:09 by branth
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