Homebrew PCBs

Sure, we all know about this, but I went here: 
http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm ,

followed his techniques and had the best results ever.

I never would have imagined that the cheap photopaper from Stables 
would work so much better than any other toner-resist method I've 
tried.  With the cost of Toner-Transfer Decal paper at roughly a 
buck a sheet... you can imagine I've made very few attempts.  Now 
that the paper I use is more affordable, I can experiment without 
feeling 
guilty.


While I was at it, I tried the HCL/H202 solution.  FECL3 is now 
history.  Too slow, to opaque, and I hate the staining unless I use 
GLASS.  Yes, I'm careful with HCL, honest.

Now for the fun part. I know this has been discussed here before too 
but I have tried two products from a german company called abacom-de 
that I really like.  They make hobbyist priced products for 
electronics such as SPLAN (schematics) and SPRINT LAYOUT (PCB).  I 
bought both after trying the demo versions.  Unlike CADSOFT Eagle, 
you can't really *use* the demo versions. You cannot print or save 
stuff with the demo versions.

The price was around $55 US each so it seemed a good price.  I like 
the fact that they are easy to use.  Unlike Eagle, the schematic 
program does not have a relationship with the PCB program, but 
that's a small price to pay for a good hobbyist-use product.  I love 
the results with these products.

By the way...

Hello Everyone.

Pete

I wasn't aware sprint layout is still beeing produced, haven't seen it in  
a long time. I might just look at the demo to see how it is now.
I use Target, also from germany.

There are plenty of these "reasonably priced" packages out there, many  
will do everything you really need and most are relatively easy to use.

Good to hear transfer and CuCl etching works for you, for me it's the best  
method for my needs as well.

ST

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006 16:07:21 +0100, Pete <pwillard@...> wrote:

> Now for the fun part. I know this has been discussed here before too
>
> but I have tried two products from a german company called abacom-de
>
> that I really like.  They make hobbyist priced products for
>
> electronics such as SPLAN (schematics) and SPRINT LAYOUT (PCB).  I
>
> bought both after trying the demo versions.  Unlike CADSOFT Eagle,
>
> you can't really *use* the demo versions. You cannot print or save
>
> stuff with the demo versions.
>
>
> The price was around $55 US each so it seemed a good price.  I like
>
> the fact that they are easy to use.  Unlike Eagle, the schematic
>
> program does not have a relationship with the PCB program, but
>
> that's a small price to pay for a good hobbyist-use product.  I love
>
> the results with these products.

Hi Pete,

I'm just back after a long diversion to many other lists on machining and
CNC.  

Thanks for the URL.

I've just started with Eagle (although I did peek at it in 2001), and in the
middle of making a board.  I hadn't even THOUGHT about the etching process
and toner-transfer process, as I'm really wanting to MILL the board using
isolation traces with my CNC'd Sherline mill.

The package you mention sounds interesting, but I'm really looking forward
to exploring the script and ULP (User Language Program) capability that is
built into eagle.  I'm hoping I can import/export to Orcad Capture and my
Vector CAD/CAM package.

Alan  KM6VV 

> Sure, we all know about this, but I went here:
> http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm ,
> 
> followed his techniques and had the best results ever.

> <SNIP> 

> Now for the fun part. I know this has been discussed here before too
> but I have tried two products from a german company called abacom-de
> that I really like.  They make hobbyist priced products for
> electronics such as SPLAN (schematics) and SPRINT LAYOUT (PCB).  I
> bought both after trying the demo versions.  Unlike CADSOFT Eagle,
> you can't really *use* the demo versions. You cannot print or save
> stuff with the demo versions.
> 
> The price was around $55 US each so it seemed a good price.  I like
> the fact that they are easy to use.  Unlike Eagle, the schematic
> program does not have a relationship with the PCB program, but
> that's a small price to pay for a good hobbyist-use product.  I love
> the results with these products.
> 
> By the way...
> 
> Hello Everyone.
> 
> Pete