Homebrew PCBs

Greetings,

I'm rounding up tools and materials to try my hand at making PCBs. My
intention is to use the Pulsar method. I have obtained a GBC 9"
Personal Laminator, but it seems that 1/2 oz. 0.032" clad boards are
very hard to find. After much googling the only source I've found is
Digi-Key, and they're currently out of stock.

I'm wondering whether anyone has tried feeding the thicker 0.064"
stock through the GBC Personal Laminator. I've spent a good deal of
time reading the archives of this mailing list and while I've seen it
mentioned several times that feeding the stock in corner-first helps
with thicker material, it isn't clear to me whether anyone is doing
this successfully with this laminator. I noticed that the instructions
say that the maximum pouch size is 5 mil, but I don't know whether or
not that tells us anything useful.

I might just try it myself, but I thought I'd ask here first before I
run the risk of gagging my brand-new laminator. 

Alternatively, has anyone tried the sponge-etch method with 1 oz.
copper stock? 1 oz. / 0.032" stock seems to be readily available.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

--Adam

I've pushed the .064 through a similar "5 mil" laminator. Corner 
first, give it some gentle assistance on the way in and the way out.

-SQ

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "schabtach" <adam@...> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> 
> I'm rounding up tools and materials to try my hand at making PCBs. 
My
> intention is to use the Pulsar method. I have obtained a GBC 9"
> Personal Laminator, but it seems that 1/2 oz. 0.032" clad boards 
are
> very hard to find. After much googling the only source I've found 
is
> Digi-Key, and they're currently out of stock.
> 
> I'm wondering whether anyone has tried feeding the thicker 0.064"
> stock through the GBC Personal Laminator. I've spent a good deal of
> time reading the archives of this mailing list and while I've seen 
it
> mentioned several times that feeding the stock in corner-first 
helps
> with thicker material, it isn't clear to me whether anyone is doing
> this successfully with this laminator. I noticed that the 
instructions
> say that the maximum pouch size is 5 mil, but I don't know whether 
or
> not that tells us anything useful.
> 
> I might just try it myself, but I thought I'd ask here first 
before I

> run the risk of gagging my brand-new laminator. 
> 
> Alternatively, has anyone tried the sponge-etch method with 1 oz.
> copper stock? 1 oz. / 0.032" stock seems to be readily available.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any replies.
> 
> --Adam
>

Laminates up to 3/16" thick.   Not tried for PCB's but have run in sign shop for years.

http://www.usi-laminate.com/store/wpbec_viewItem.asp?idProduct=2115&Level1=1&Level2=24&Level3=95

Norm

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: strangequark09 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 9:12 AM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Newbie asks: 0.064" stock in GBC 9" Personal Laminator?


  I've pushed the .064 through a similar "5 mil" laminator. Corner 
  first, give it some gentle assistance on the way in and the way out.

  -SQ

  --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "schabtach" <adam@...> wrote:
  >
  > Greetings,
  > 
  > I'm rounding up tools and materials to try my hand at making PCBs. 
  My
  > intention is to use the Pulsar method. I have obtained a GBC 9"
  > Personal Laminator, but it seems that 1/2 oz. 0.032" clad boards 
  are
  > very hard to find. After much googling the only source I've found 
  is
  > Digi-Key, and they're currently out of stock.
  > 
  > I'm wondering whether anyone has tried feeding the thicker 0.064"
  > stock through the GBC Personal Laminator. I've spent a good deal of
  > time reading the archives of this mailing list and while I've seen 
  it
  > mentioned several times that feeding the stock in corner-first 
  helps
  > with thicker material, it isn't clear to me whether anyone is doing
  > this successfully with this laminator. I noticed that the 
  instructions
  > say that the maximum pouch size is 5 mil, but I don't know whether 
  or
  > not that tells us anything useful.
  > 
  > I might just try it myself, but I thought I'd ask here first 
  before I
  > run the risk of gagging my brand-new laminator. 
  > 
  > Alternatively, has anyone tried the sponge-etch method with 1 oz.
  > copper stock? 1 oz. / 0.032" stock seems to be readily available.
  > 
  > Thanks in advance for any replies.
  > 
  > --Adam
  >



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've used the sponge method on boards up to 2 ounce copper.  It just
takes longer.  Definitely get the green film if using the sponge
method.  It is very effective in protecting the toner from the rubbing
action.

A 75mm by 100mm board with 1 ounce copper takes about 5 minutes to
etch.  I also cover all unused areas with toner to reduce the rate of
etchant exhaustion.  This size board takes about 1 ounce of etchant.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "schabtach" <adam@...> wrote:

>

> 
> Alternatively, has anyone tried the sponge-etch method with 1 oz.
> copper stock? 1 oz. / 0.032" stock seems to be readily available.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any replies.
> 
> --Adam
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "schabtach" <adam@...> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> 
> I'm rounding up tools and materials to try my hand at making PCBs. 
My
> intention is to use the Pulsar method. I have obtained a GBC 9"
> Personal Laminator, but it seems that 1/2 oz. 0.032" clad boards are
> very hard to find. After much googling the only source I've found is
> Digi-Key, and they're currently out of stock.
> 
> I'm wondering whether anyone has tried feeding the thicker 0.064"
> stock through the GBC Personal Laminator. I've spent a good deal of
> time reading the archives of this mailing list and while I've seen 
it
> mentioned several times that feeding the stock in corner-first helps
> with thicker material, it isn't clear to me whether anyone is doing
> this successfully with this laminator. I noticed that the 
instructions
> say that the maximum pouch size is 5 mil, but I don't know whether 
or
> not that tells us anything useful.
> 
> I might just try it myself, but I thought I'd ask here first before 
I
> run the risk of gagging my brand-new laminator. 
> 
> Alternatively, has anyone tried the sponge-etch method with 1 oz.
> copper stock? 1 oz. / 0.032" stock seems to be readily available.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any replies.
> 
> --Adam
>
MG Chemicals markets a line of board material in 1 oz. cladding.
Some of the material is available in various sizes in 1/32" (0.032").
( http://www.mouser.com/catalog/627/1780.pdf )
( http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/1634 )
( Google > MG Chemicals +copper clad board +"1/32" )
As stated 1 oz. will simply take a little longer to etech, but it 
will carry more current, thus you can use thinner traces.

Following up on my own question, I've successfully fed 0.064" stock
through a GBC 9" laminator. The caveat is that the paper used for
transferring the toner can't be too thick. One layer of Epson Glossy
Photo paper, which is pretty thick, works fine. Two layers of magazine
paper (I was trying to make a sandwich to transfer both sides at once)
also works. Two layers of the thick Epson paper does not work, and I
ended up having to use pliers to remove the board from the laminator. 

--Adam