Homebrew PCBs

On Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:09:12 -0400, you wrote:

>On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:49 PM, Brad Thompson
>brad.thompson@... [Homebrew_PCBs]
><Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>> I've been contemplating the whole make-boards-at-home process and I'm
>> getting closer to going the commercial route... unless I can think of
>> additional
>> tasks for a router, laser engraver, and 3-D printer<g>.
>
>I think you are looking at this the wrong way.  You make PCBs at home
>when you only want one of them.  This can either be a 1-off for a
>particular task or a prototype for a circuit.  If you ever want much
>more than 1 copy of a board, you are better off having it made
>professionally.

I can agree and disagree with this.  For me, the advantage of making
the boards at home is simply cost.  I can do a reasonably decent
double sided board, no silk screen or plated through holes, which I
can use if I want a "one of" or consider sending off to a board house
(not yet done that), if I know I want a lot, and the silk screen and
solder mask and plated through holes are worth the money.... They
generally are, but I use the home made stuff to verify the design.

"And that, Virginia, is why they have revision numbers on
drawings...."

The boards I'm doing are generally largish, 6.5 by 3.4 or so inches at
the latest, generally a microprocessor, I2C, and whatever else I need.
I'm generally happy to do the boards at home, since I do a lot of "one
of" designs, although I think that'll change.  

I generally improve a design, or have to add something, or just have
to modify the design because the parts are no longer available (some 4
terminal 3.3 and 5.0 volt regulators are an example)...

Making do with toner transfer, laser printer, laminator, shear, and an
upside down drill press with a TV camera to view the boards.

Harvey


>
>The only thing you really need to spend any amount of money on to make
>basic PCBs at home is a quality drill press and a set of carbide bits.
>
>-p.