Homebrew PCBs

On Friday 21 March 2003 05:15 pm, Dave Mucha wrote:
> I would like to replace it with something to do circuit boards, but
>   my total yearly board use is not really too big. I have done the
> iron transfer and like it for small boards, but it does (in my
> opinion) have limitations.

One improvement on the iron technique may be (I haven't tried it) to 
use a vacuum frame and the special paper: 
http://www.dynaart.com/DTF/E.DTF.html

This may have the advantage of allowing a more consistent transfer.

> What would anyone suggest a novice guy use to make boards? I have
> been using Eagle in a limited fashion and have not ever needed to
> exceed the limits of the trial version, so my boards are not too
> large.

Well, the "gold standard" of homemade PC boards has long been the ones 
made with photolithography. You can buy pre-sensitized board stock, 
and you can make transparencies using a laser printer (or inkjet 
printer?).

You then expose the boards (through the transparencies, of course) to 
UV light, develop them, then etch as usual.

-- 
Ned Konz
http://bike-nomad.com
GPG key ID: BEEA7EFE