Homebrew PCBs

possible? absolutely!  Heck its a lot easier since you don't have to 
drill so many holes.  I keep looking for cheap, decent SMD connectors 
so I can drill even fewer holes.  

I do think it means it is more likely you have to do double sided 
boards and get good at doing "poor man's vias".  All things 
considered, its pretty easy though.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mikezcnc" <eemikez@c...> wrote:
> Does this mean that making a quality SMD PCB is possible?
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Thomas P. Gootee" 
<tomg@f...> 
> wrote:
> > Don,
> > 
> > I have recently updated my webpage on the toner transfer 
procedure:
> > 
> > The results seem to be basically PERFECT, EVERY TIME, now.  And 
> it's extremely quick, and easy.
> > 
> > I give VERY detailed step-by-instructions for the complete 
> procedure, plus the exact paper type and its source (only $0.33 per 
> sheet!), etc.
> > 
> > I've also posted PHOTOS of an example board that I made, showing 
> the paper pattern and the pcboard at various stages during and 
after 
> the process. 
> > 
> > The example board includes trace widths from almost 1/2 inch 
(12.7 
> mm) down to around 2/300ths (0.0067) inch (0.17 mm), with between-
> trace spacings down to about 0.0067 inch, although I think that the 
> smallest trace-width that's actually shown in the photos is 
4/300ths 
> (0.0133) inch (about 0.34 mm).  
> > 
> > I haven't tried making any traces or spacings that are smaller 
than 
> 2/300ths of an inch, yet.  But the 2/300ths-inch traces and spaces 
> that I HAVE tried were absolutely no problem at all. And the 
results 
> look excellent.  (Even the little "o" characters that are part of 
the 
> %-signs that are etched out of copper in very small 4-point text 
come 
> out perfect. And their line/space features are even smaller than my 
> smallest trace-widths and spacings.)
> > 
> > I've made at least 20 boards this way, so far, with NO bad boards.
> > 
> > The PCB-making-procedure webpage is at:
> > 
> > ----------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm
> > 
> > ----------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > OT:  If anyone wants any 1-sided boards made, from **BITMAP-
type** 
> patterns that could be emailed (or mailed), my teenage son is 
> thinking of using my method to start a small business, making pcbs, 
> probably for about $15 or $20 for a board that's up to about 4x6 
> inches, with that price including the drilling of up to a couple 
> hundred holes AND applying the silkscreen artwork (your greyscale 
or 
> bitmap image) to the component side. Turnaround time would probably 
> be zero to one day.  He's been making boards for ME, and is very 
good 
> at it. (And I would supervise.)  If anyone's interested, or has any 
> questions, just email me (Tom) at tomg@f... .
> > 
> > Regards,
> > 
> > Tom Gootee
> > 
> > http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg
> > 
> > -----------------------------------
> > 
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> > 	Message: 5
> > 	   Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 23:18:46 +1000
> > 	   From: "Don Bradbury" <don282@d...>
> > 	Subject: Re: SCOTCH  8007
> > 	
> > 	Hi Bill, many thanks for the reply I think I am to basic with 
> my needs for most people on this board. I don't make 	enough boards 
> these days to get to the level of the others and I don't like the 
> toner transfer system I find it is to 	uncertain for what I 
need it 
> for (10 GHz boards $1.45 sq.inch) but the same situation exists 
here 
> I have a number of 	sq ft. of negative board and I don't know if 
> it will still work either.
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]