Project:PCB Etch Tank

Note : see Pcb for other references

See Equipment/PCB_etch_station for one that already exists.

To see the canonical guide on how to etch PCBs at the LHS go to this page: Pcb etching instructions \

Idea

A peristaltic pump and possible accoutrements for etching boards. The pump could be used to speed up the etching process by displacing spent etchant from the immediate vicinity of the board. The pump could also be used to bubble air through the Copper Chloride etchant that will soon be in play at the space. The air bubbling is an essential process in regenerating the etchant.

A heat exchanger of some kind could be incorporated to speed up the etching further.

Nice things about peristaltic pumps are:

easy to make
easy to clean
easy to estimate flow rate
look awesome, especially in clear Acrylic
work could be repurposed to help with the pizza printer

Existing designs

Possible candidates (lifted from google images):

Clear plastic box adaptation. Not dissimilar to LHS personal boxes.

Another design option, more complex but perhaps doable in acrylic by the laser cutter.

Sketches

Sketches to be inserted here.

Some ideas from the Google 3D warehouse, both from user davies447.

MEGA Electronics Rota-Spray

PCB Developer Tank