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At home low volume PCB printing

Catwell
For years I've been looking for a way to make some simple PCBs at home. Getting boards fabricated just for a single layer was a waste of money for me. And most at home PCB etching was extensive, used a lot of chemicals, or I needed a CNC router. And now, I found a way to do it using a desktop printer, laminator, and a bucket. I plan on trying the below tutorial and print my own single layer PCB for a surface mount 10F222 based project I have been tinkering with lately. The tutorial seems straight forward, and apparently it takes about 1 hour to complete. Sounds better than waiting for a fab house to make some PCBs.
 

Can anyone suggest a simple PCB layout tool? I was considering ExpressPCB. But I'm open to other options. I want the simplest program, thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

Cabe

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  • Maybe everything is already said on this topic, but here are some extra's.

     

    I have never tried the toner on copper clad board approach, i use my laserprinter to print the artwork on transparant sheet (overhead project sheet). I always print 2 and put them on top of each other with scotch tape (2 layers of toner is blocking the UV-light more). I have an UV-unit (self build) and some chemicals (Natronlog). If use use the natronloog heat it to let's say 30C and use a brush to fasten the development process (most important!).

     

    But i come back to the toner on PCB appoach. I was always looking for a way to make service printing (it helps for assambly and looks more professional). The toner on glossypaper is most usefull to make the top layer silk screen (service printing). Most CAD tools have the 'mirror text' option, you have have to carefull how to print the text. It is better to make a logbook to write all the step done to make a good PCB, because you will do it once a while and these details are not easy to remember.

     

    O bye the way. The service printing step is almost the last step (even after drilling).

     

    Best regards, Enrico

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  • Maybe everything is already said on this topic, but here are some extra's.

     

    I have never tried the toner on copper clad board approach, i use my laserprinter to print the artwork on transparant sheet (overhead project sheet). I always print 2 and put them on top of each other with scotch tape (2 layers of toner is blocking the UV-light more). I have an UV-unit (self build) and some chemicals (Natronlog). If use use the natronloog heat it to let's say 30C and use a brush to fasten the development process (most important!).

     

    But i come back to the toner on PCB appoach. I was always looking for a way to make service printing (it helps for assambly and looks more professional). The toner on glossypaper is most usefull to make the top layer silk screen (service printing). Most CAD tools have the 'mirror text' option, you have have to carefull how to print the text. It is better to make a logbook to write all the step done to make a good PCB, because you will do it once a while and these details are not easy to remember.

     

    O bye the way. The service printing step is almost the last step (even after drilling).

     

    Best regards, Enrico

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