Create Your Own Guitar Effects Pedal

Step 2 How to get started:

Print the layout on the glossy photo paper. I used Canon Glossy Photo paper for this. Don't go too expensive, just cheap glossy paper. Make sure to print it on a laser printer. Print the layout 2 or 3 times on the same sheet, so you have an extra print if something goes wrong. Now you can start to clean the copper board. Use a sponge and some fat removing cleaning fluid. Make sure you clean the copper thoroughly, and don't touch it with your fingers (or anything else that could put fat on the copper), that might give you some troubles while ironing the layout on. After you've cleaned and dried the copperboard you can start heating up the iron. Use the hottest setting your iron has. Place the layout on the copperboard (yesss with the toner facing the board 0.o), and place the hot iron on. Apply a little pressure, and make sure the paper doesn't move anymore after this. Keep the iron in place for about a minute. Then carefully start moving the iron around over the paper, still making sure the paper doesn't move. The whole process usually takes me about 10 minutes. If you think the toner is transfered onto the copperboard, take of the iron, and feel if the paper is attached to the copper or not. If it comes loose really easy, just take it off, if you really need to pull it, put the whole board in a bit of cold water and carefully peel the wet paper off.

If everything went well the circuit should be on the copperboard, without any gaps in the copper leads. If this is not the case, use some aceton or nail polish remover to clean the copperboard and start again. If the transfer of the toner went well, it's time to get to the etching.

Comments

[blinkyblinky]

Do you have a schematic?

[rkr]

Why does it have to be a laser printer? Just curious, somewhat because I don't have one.

[Orchestrapit]

the actual reason it has to be a laser printer is because laser printers do not use ink, instead, they use powdered plastic, which a galvanometer aimed laser melts it on to a piece of paper. this plastic when transferred to a pcb, will resist the chemicals used to etch copper.

[gingerninja102]

it has something to do with the type of inks used in them i think certain amount carbon i think so if u iron the design onto your board it will stick easier then wont etch away at least thats what the tell me at school

[Joanassie]

In my electronics class I use a permanent marker and precise hand movements instead of ironing on toner from a piece of paper so you don't need a printer at all if you're good with your hands.

[rkr]

Also because I didn't think you could put glossy paper in a laser printer, it says on the package that it could damage it.