Homebrew PCBs

Ron,

thanks for providing this... but can you provide a bit more info?

Any "name brand" silicon I should buy?

I have a vacuum pump... but I cannot figure out how I would attach it to a rubber mold.. would that just collapse the mold?

Do you have any pictures?

 - jim


On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 01:06:56 -0800 (PST)
ron amundson <mnphysicist@...> wrote:

> 
> As far as DIY, its time consuming.... but cheap
> 
> 1. create a nice looking master (wood, clay, or wax)
> 2. create a silicon rubber mold from the master
> 3. create a clamping arrangement to hold the silicon
> rubber mold onto the cable and connector
> 4. cast the connector/cable assmebly
> 
> Your biggest expense will be a vacuum system to degas
> the casting material. If you don't mind a few bubbles
> here and there, some materials are more forgiving and
> work find without degassing. Silicon rubber molds are
> good for 5 pieces if you are not careful, and you
> might even be able to make 30 or 40 if you are
> careful.
> 
> If you need more than 30 or 40, it pay be cost
> effective to have a casting mold machined from
> aluminum. I've got thousands of products in the field,
> some of which were medical using aluminum casting
> molds for the connectors. However for prototypes and
> proof of concept, the silicon rubber works fine. Much
> of the time, we installed small circuit boards right
> within the connector assembly (the first few of course
> were home brew).
> 
> Do not however try to use hardware store silicon. Its
> not for casting, and does not work very well.
> 
> Ron
> 
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