Homebrew PCBs

Feel free to flame me if I am talking drivel - but

> Steve and MYC wrote:

> Homebrew-pcbs is a specialized group of very vocal (or
> whatever the term for posters is) people that are well
> beyond the ordindary joe. 

> <SNIP>

> You missed the point about the average joe. He is not
> going out and spending his $$$ on a set up just for
> making pcbs. Again, I'm talking about the average guy
> maybe making a few boards a month.


Well - making a few PCBs a month probably is more than
the average "joe".  I would guess the average joe does
not even know what a PCB is (or thinks it's that stuff
Monsanto pour into the Hudson river)

A VERY average person may once in their life want to
make a PCB for their 12 year old sons science fair
project.

That person is best off asking someone else to do it.

Someone that wants to make one PCB in a blue moon might
step up from asking someone to make it and use toner
transfer.  Toner transfer is close to ZERO dollars for
entry as almost everyone in the world has access to a
laser printer even if they don't own one them selves.
I also think most people would have a household iron.

I'm not here today to bag toner transfer and say "it's
only good for rank amatures that do one PCB a year".
Toner transfer is great and gets realy good results
for a lot of people.  Plenty of people use TT for
making quite profesional looking boards on a regular
basis.

These people are in the kind of catergory where they
would buy a special laser printer just for it and buy
or make a laminator.

If your in that category - then maybe buying/hacking/
building a special inkjet might be for you.

> Yes there are a few dedicated souls who for their own
> purposes will spend some extra $$$ just to be able to
> make a pcb...

But then we come back to the point - this is the
"Homebrew PCB".  People have come here becuase they are
interested in making PCBs at home.

I guess Homebrew PCB is the same as Homebrew beer.
The Average Joe that likes to drink beer will just go
to the shop and buy some XXXX/Fosters/Guiness/Budweiser
(pick your country of origins average undrinkable brew)
Some people however WANT to homebrew beer.  They all
have different reasons.

Some people homebrew beer for a better taste.
Some people homebrew beer for a cheaper product.
Some people homebrew beer 'cause they just can't but it.
Some people homebrew beer to get away from their wives.

What ever the reason - they are homebrewers.

We all homebrew PCBs for different reasons.

Mine is for speed in prototyping.

Most of you will have different or varying reasons.

Some of you are in "mad scientist" mode and are out
to find a better way to do it.  Thumbs up to you and
good luck.

I think we just need to bear in mind that InkJet
direct is "experimental" at the moment and until it
has matured a bit then comparing it to established
methods is going to lead to arguments like "it WILL
be better".

I'm not yet going to recomend a new group "Yahoo
Experimental Homebrew PCB" but maybe it might be
an idea to prefix posts with with word
"experimental" if it is not tried and true ?
Is this a good idea or a bad idea ?

Also - Does anyone think it is a good idea to do
some well written documents doing pros and cons of
differnt methods AND then some consistant tutorials
on each of the methods ?

I will start another thread on this and put in my
thoughts - Everyone feel welcome to add/argue/flame.