Homebrew PCBs

>> > Woods metal is an alloy of tin-lead-bismuth-cadmium. Hmm, low
>> > temperature solder. I suppose that is one way of tinning your
>> > boards :-)
>> >
>> > Les
>>
>> Unless you pass too many amps thru it!
>>
>> A quick rummage around the 'net turned up Wood's metal is 50% bismuth,
>> 26.7% lead, 13.3% tin, 10% cadmium by weight.  I don't think that's RoHS
>> compatible.  It melts at 70C, not 50C as I thought.  Someone once told
>> me
>> that when pointing out it was used in fire sprinkers.  Might have been a
>> different alloy.
>>
>> However, there's Field's metal, 60C melting point and none of the nasty
>> stuff, being 32.5% bismuth, 51% indium, 16.5% tin by weight.
>
>
> Smallparts.com sells low temperature alloys of that kind.
> http://www.smallparts.com/products/descriptions/lma.cfm
>
> My group has been experimenting with printing circuit board traces on
> plastic,
> if people are really interested.
> http://blog.reprap.org/
> http://www.reprap.org
>
> Regards,
> -Sebastien Bailard
> RepRap.org - self-reproducing 3D printer project.


Looking at some of those prices make me wonder what temperature gold melts
at - it might be cheaper.  :)

Tony