First attempt at making my own PCBs

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:46 am

Well I'm tooled up for etching - laser printer and 5 litres of FeCl. But until now I've just etched enclosures. Usually I have PCBs made for me by Bean, or I build on perf. For each etched enclosure I make a fresh mix of FeCl and water, so it seems a shame to waste the spent etchant. PCBs was the next logical step.Got the copper clad from Maplin (I know, I know - had to get solder and bought it on a whim - it's about time I did my own PCBs).

Toner transfer has gone well:

It's in the FeCl right now, stuff I've already used diluted with water to etch enclosures.

More photos later.

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:11 am

Now, how do you guys make those tiny holes? I have a 1mm titanium drill bit, but only a hand drill - guess I need to buy a dremel - any recommedations?

Nocentelli · Post by **Nocentelli** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:14 am

frequencycentral wrote:Now, how do you guys make those tiny holes? I have a 1mm titanium drill bit, but only a hand drill...

+1 That's the only thing putting me off etching my own... Rick, when are you going to start selling boards for your awesome creations?

Teej212 · Post by **Teej212** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:36 am

i drill by hand and it sucks really hard

eatyourguitar · Post by **eatyourguitar** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:02 am

drill press, hard steel bits. carbide I think. also, an engraving machine that is similar to a dremel with the spinning head. stewmac sells them. any dentist drilll. they work on air so the drill is smaller and lighter in the hands.

mysteriousj · Post by **mysteriousj** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:50 pm

drill presses are best imo because any tiny bit of sideways motion and then your drill bit is broken :'(

McSpunckle · Post by **McSpunckle** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:03 pm

I'd imagine the little Dremel drill press thing is good for drilling the holes. :idk:

eatyourguitar · Post by **eatyourguitar** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:42 pm

McSpunckle wrote:I'd imagine the little Dremel drill press thing is good for drilling the holes.

your talking about the plunge router attachment. I'm not really all that into it. drill press is best but if you already have the stewmac thing, or dentist drill to do inlays, then you can just drill freehand. you can get shorter bits for any dremel style tool and that should reduce the problems with breakage.

McSpunckle · Post by **McSpunckle** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:38 am

eatyourguitar wrote:your talking about the plunge router attachment.

No, I'm taking about the drill press attachment.

http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-220-01-Rot ... B00068P48O

The plunge router would just be silly.

eatyourguitar · Post by **eatyourguitar** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:57 pm

That looks perfect. Especially if you dont have to buy the dremel. If you already have a drill press, you could use that too. Ebay has the bits you want with cheap shipping. Just buy a 10 pack

LaoWiz · Post by **LaoWiz** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:26 am

frequencycentral wrote:Now, how do you guys make those tiny holes? I have a 1mm titanium drill bit, but only a hand drill - guess I need to buy a dremel - any recommedations?

I drilled a hole through my left index finger a couple of weeks ago. Using hand drill....

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:50 am

LaoWiz wrote:I drilled a hole through my left index finger a couple of weeks ago. Using hand drill....

Gut shots?

theavondon · Post by **theavondon** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:06 pm

frequencycentral wrote:
LaoWiz wrote:I drilled a hole through my left index finger a couple of weeks ago. Using hand drill....

Gut shots?

Heh

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First attempt at making my own PCBs

First attempt at making my own PCBs

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