Homebrew PCBs

> > "Andrew" <andrewm1973@...> writes:
> > I have not yet.  I am scared that the little ~6
> > thou tracks will get scratched.

> DJ Delorie wrote:
> Pulsar does recommend the TRF layer to protect the
> toner if you're going to use a sponge.  It's a
> thin film that sticks to the toner to seal it and
> add some physical protection as well.

Probably won't help me as I am one of those photo
zealots.

I think until I get spray etching happening I will
just stick to Ferric Chloride on boards with <8 thou
dimensions.  The CuCl just undercuts more from
my expereince.

> Perhaps a test board would be useful?  I've got
> one here I use for such things:
>         http://www.delorie.com/pcb/
> scroll down to "Goodies" and download the bloat
> test board (pcb, pdf, gerber).  It's got various
> traces and spacing, plus various annulus sizes,
> from 12 mils down to 1.

Thanks - Will have a look at the bloat plugin.

I only just converted to gEDA/PCB last week and
am only just getting up to speed on it and learing
how to draw footprints and symbols at present.
(And I will probably be one of the people you
scream at for doing heavy symbols)

Going to give your teardrop plugin a go as soon as
I have drawn a real PCB.

http://www.thehacktory.com/Simple-IR-RX-Prototype-V1p4-Top.jpg

Is a picture of the final ever board I will
draw with old protel for DOS.  Down at this 
size the imperial back end that only went to
1000ths made things frustrating.  All the traces
and clearances should have been 0.2mm but the SW
randomly made them about 6 or 7thou on print out.

The three packages shown are

A SC75-6 package with 0.5mm pitch (easy)
A Motor driver in a DFN10 with 0.5mm pitch (easy)
ATMega48 in a QFN28_4_EP that has 0.45mm pitch

That last 0.05mm makes a difference.