Introduction: Build Circuits Pcb Without Iron
materials:
- Steel scourer
- Universal Solvent
- Synthetic cloth (not release hairs, balls, or lint)
- Paint nail remover (containing acetone)
- Bleach
- Salfuman
- Hydrogen peroxide 110 volumes
Step 1: Clean With Steel Scourer
Clean heavy all zones and corners with steel scourer
it's very important for remove all dirty and solids micro materials
Step 2: Clean With Scarf
This step is important to thoroughly clean and remove any grease or adhesive layers or particles
Step 3: Clean With Synthetic Cloth
It is a good idea to use cloth or synthetic suede, textile and it does not leave residues or lint Soludos.
I do this because the passage of minutes the dust content of the air (and sometimes do your eye not see) goes keeping in our pcb board.
A speck of dust can ruin the line of a track, or break any letters or words.
Step 4: Acetone Step
With paper with draw of laser printer made, put flat over circuit board.
Then apply acetone finger draws, as if it were a finger brush, ensuring that the paper will be stuck on the board.
When acetone is in the process of drying and is still wet, rub gently to remove some layers of paper, to make the cut in a thin paper. (extreme care not to break or remove all layers)
Step 5: Bleach Step
Put in a bowl some very hot water (not boiling need)
Squirt of bleach (no need to calculate, the amount is not important)
Leave the board in water until cool.
I discovered this mysterious process with bleach.
Bleach helps the paper breaks down and peels off, and at the same time for reasons unknown causes the toner harden and stick better to board.
This step is key if you are using a normal plain paper.
If you skip this process, then the paper is not well off or cellulose trace prevent the good quality of the final attack.
If you not desire this step, then you need a special paper (like transfer paper and iron process)
Step 6: Wash the Plate With Water and Give Off the Scraps of Paper
Although bleach paper softens and melts, it does not release all of it.
With help of water and fingers, gently we get the paper is left.
For those who are habitual method of the laser&iron, they will realize with this new method, which in this step of washing with water, paper will not caught, is like a paste that goes almost without rubbing.
Step 7: Copper Corrosion Step
Search an airy and safe, and mixed in similar proportions:
- 1 part of cold water
- 1 part hydrocloric acid
- 1 part hydrogen peroxide 110 volumes
By immersing the board in this mixture will begin copper corrosion, and only where it is not covered by the drawing.
DO NOT BREATHE THIS GASES EVOLVED, IS VERY TOXIC
If the process is long and there are only small areas of copper, it is better to withdraw (a very long time can attack the copper even in drawing zones)
If when finished some areas of copper were not removed, we can attack it manually and separately, placing some acid in these parts using a napkin or cotton.
We can put and leave some acid over, or we can do with worthless acid to flick (as a woman when makeup powder is placed on the face), this action makes the copper will corrode quickly in that area where we are playing with the wet paper.
To finish clean with watter to stop attack
Step 8: Testing
With candles you can see the true opacity of copper and work quality.
It must not display any details light or transparency. A slight transparency or pores in a track, can cause problems of electrical conductivity or problems in the welding operation.
Step 9: Finished
This method allows you to make an accurate and quality work quickly and easily.
In the next step you can see more examples.
Step 10: More Samples
This is more samples with the same method
You can see more info in:
http://www.mitermostatosolar.com/fabricar-pcb-por-...
And video in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dqf0CaF1HU&feature=youtu.be
16 Comments
7 weeks ago on Step 10
CONGRATULATIONS for sharing this process.
This may help with thin tracks...
Ironing method was not too good.
Hope to read more from you !!!
7 weeks ago on Step 6
In order to remove the paper you may use a SOFT toothbrush (if an old one, perhaps better) by GENTLY brushing the surface.
Tip 7 weeks ago on Step 7
About corrosive mix.
It must be dispossed following environmental preservation lays.
I suggest you all to "neutralize" by adding little drops of sodium bicarbonate till...
No reaction when adding.
CAUTION this neutralization process MUST be done in a well ventilated area as the gases resulting of the process are HIDROGEN (flamable) and CHLORINE (highly toxic and corrosive to metals).
Note:
If the corrosive mix is directly drop to sink, all metal tubing and parts may be affected and eventually broken.
(Fishes and other... Died too, you know)
7 years ago
So I read this as making boards without ferric chloride ( ferric for iron ) a common etchant. But now I think that perhaps you meant without ironing ( a method used with toner transfer ) The latter is cooler even. Toner Transfer PCBs without Ironing might be a better title, I believe you can still change it.
Nice ideas in any case.
Reply 7 years ago
really i not understand.
Title is clear, "Build circuits pcb without iron - by apachebcn"
Where you read without ferric chloride?
Reply 7 years ago
Ferric means iron ( latin ) and ferric chloride is an echant. So if you do not use ferric chloride you are etching without iron ( as you are in the instructable ). I suspect that English is not your first language. In any case if by iron you mean that thing that most people use to make clothes flat you would say: "Build Circuits without an Iron" ( note that it is also customary in titles to use more capital letters )
Reply 7 years ago
yes, you are talking about title, title not said nothing about ferric
i really not understand you mean, title says exactly you are offering
"Build circuits pcb without iron"
And yes, i mean this piece of make clothes flat
Reply 7 years ago
Perhaps if you focus on: "Ferric means iron ( latin ) and ferric chloride is an echant." ( Echants remove the copper from the board, you are using acid and H2O2 )
Reply 7 years ago
Perhaps you saw: https://www.instructables.com/id/Heatless-cold-Tone...
7 years ago
This is surely a great idea! I usually use the ironing method, and that is tedious.
I will test your method.
Now, I have one question: in the photo of step 8, we see you made a two sided board. At which step in the process do you transfer the second side to the board?
Reply 7 years ago
Yep friend, is tedious and is bad idea fight with wife LOL!!!!
Please, test and comment please
for 2 sides board, i print 2 sides in the same paper, but mirrores.
I folded the paper, and candles do match points and welds vias and terminals.
When drawing are mirrored together, then under the sheet so that it is bent and do not move, you can help adhesive or staples.
Then I put the board inside, like you're putting something inside a closed book, if you know that I mean.
This way you can make the 2 sides exactly i'm doing, one side, rotate, other side, no more and no problems.
If you are afraid that while working with one face can move the another side, which happens rarely, you can dip a finger of acetone, the corners on both sides, then the paper glued on both sides will stay.
Sorry by my bad english, i'm spanish
7 years ago
Great idea to use acetone to transfer the toner! Have you found any type of paper which works best?
Reply 7 years ago
I tried with satined paper, but is not much better i think
But problem of special papers to me is to place 2 faces of paper because i make 2 faces pcbs
7 years ago
What Russ said..
7 years ago
Wow! So you only use acetone on the back of the paper to transfer the toner?
Reply 7 years ago
Yep