Homebrew PCBs

After trying many different processes to etch I am sticking to the blue 
paper http://www.techniks.com/
Just one or 2 passes in a laminator works well. and it is the fastest 
process for me.
As far as the thinnest line depends on the thickness of the copper you want 
to etch, for the thin flexible PCB I can etch hairline which is ~.2 pts, 1pt 
thickness = to .001 inches I have not measured it but it is pretty fine 
barely visible and a nail could easily take that copper off a PCB. I stick 
to .7pts for fine lines in the PCB.
Fot the motorcycle and bicycle I used brass sheets. I was never able to etch 
SS successfully the ink does not stay stuck to SS.

For gears I would use delrin and machine or laser them, etch brass gears 
dont come out well just for their thickness you cannot get a straight etch.
I use a epilog laser 45W. I have tried to spray paint a PCB, etch the traces 
and dip in FeCl, The two problems I see with that is the laser works by 
burning the paint off the coper and there is small amount of residue still 
on the copper which needs to be cleaned before etching, so it becomes a 
longer process, the second problem is to get double side etching it is 
difficult to flip the PCB and get good alignment.
The only use for a laser in a PCB world would be making the masks for 
putting solder paste.
Kim


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "javaguy11111" <javaguy11111@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 11:02 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Toner Transfer PCB Method


> Very cool. What material are you using for etching the bicycle and
> motorcycle. What are the smallest dimensions you are able to etch.
>
> I have given some thought to trying to etch small brass parts like
> gears, but have not gotten around to trying.
>
> Also curious about the laser cutter you used. What brand are you
> using. Have you tried using it to ablate a resist layer off a metal
> layer. Maybe something like black paint on metal.
>
> Damon
>
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Kim Vellore" <kimvellore@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> I do a little bit of etching and registration is important for me.
> The way I
>> do it is I take both the printouts with traces an put a Plexiglass the
>> thickness of the PCB in between the printout once aligned under
> light I put
>> a tape on the top of the sheet that holds both the sheets together.
> Now I
>> open it up with the tape as a hinge. Replace the plexiglass with a PCB,
>> laminate and etch. Some of my work that involved etching are here
>> http://kimsartshop.com/Bicycle.html
>> http://kimsartshop.com/Motorcycle.html
>> http://kimsartshop.com/CameraTrain.html
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and 
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>