PCB etching instructions
Making PCBs @ LHS
Here's the overall process
<graphviz border='frame' format='svg' >
digraph rfboard{ rankdir=TD; size="14,9!";
cleaning [label="Copper board cleaning",shape=box,style=dashed]; photoresist [label="Photo resist coat",shape=box,style=dashed]; resist_cure [label="Photo resist curing",shape=box,style=dashed];
breadboard [label="Breadboard",shape=box]; board_layout [label="Board schematic",shape=box]; uv_exposure [label="UV exposure",shape=box]; develop [label="Develop (Tank A)",shape=box]; etch [label="Etch (Tank B)",shape=box]; strip [label="Clean (IPA) ",shape=box]; drill [label="Drill",shape=box]; solder [label="Assemble and solder",shape=box];
breadboard-> board_layout [label="Fritzing"]; board_layout-> uv_exposure; cleaning->photoresist; resist_cure -> uv_exposure; photoresist->resist_cure; uv_exposure->develop; develop->etch [label="Spray wash"]; etch->strip [label="Spray wash"]; strip->drill [label="Spray wash, dry"]; drill->solder;
} </graphviz>
Note : see Pcb for other references
Board Schematic
Plain paper works surprisingly well! The printers at the space do a good job.
If you use eagle, you can use the print option (as opposed to exporting an image). Print on normal paper first and check dimensions on some components.
Some people get better (resolution mostly) results with acetate, but this needs to be special laserable acetate. Do not use normal transparency! Melting a sheet onto a fuser is expensive!
UV Exposure
Make sure your print is the right way round so that your board isn't back to front when it's etched!
5 minutes with acetate and something like 15 with paper. The uv board should look green with faint lighter green traces where your traces are.
PCB etching: Developer
Put the board in the developer (tank A), at the moment the heater for the developer is broken { note: is this still true ? } so it takes longer than the 30 seconds. What you need to look for is all the copper is exposed when you check it. Only the tracks should be coloured (green with the uv exposure board).
Note : the developer in tank A is from Mega Electronics, also sold through Rapid. It works well with photo pcb material from the same source. It does NOT work with Maplin photo material !
Etch
follow instructions on the notice, but the board is done when all the exposed copper is removed. The balance is removing too much copper and getting breaks in traces vs not enough and some small closely laid traces may have bridges.
Stripper
use the stripper for the specified time then scrub the black off and you should have nice copper traces! Use a multimeter to check for bridges.
See also
More info on the process, including photos of an SMT breakout board
Results people found with materials/compounds
Name | Date | PhotoResist source (Rapid photo resist spray/pre sentesized deluxe board?) | UV exposure stencil used (paper/acetate?) | Exposure time | Develop time | Etch time | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mentar | 3/4/2014 | Farnell presentesized epoxy glass FR4 board | Plain paper | 2 | 5 | 12 | First run in the new space |
For those wanting to get training
If you want more traning please add yourself to the list here and there'll be another workshop
Name |
---|
Liam Lynch |
Rob Kam |
Bradley Wood |
Ian Lewis (Ianadan) |
Jiri Richter |
Nathan Spence |
Colin Cooper |
Matt Camp |
Ertion Axha |