Introduction: Prototyping Tutorial PCB Development
In this tutorial you will learn how to etch a single-sided printed circuit board
Materials:
a single sided PCB, I have used the type FR4
a light box
positive developer
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
hydrochloric acid
tracing paper
safety glasses
gloves
non-metalic reservoir
drills
Step 1: Draw the Circuit
To draw your circuit you can do it in any program you want
Print it out on tracing paper with a laser printer
Be sure you printed mirrored, not like the foto
Step 2: Cutting the PCB
Cut the PCB to your dimensions.
You can cut it with guillotine cutter for paper or steel
Step 3: Illuminate
Pull the tray out and then open it
Remove the blue protective layer of the PCB
Put the print with the printed side against the copper side of the PCB
Put this against the lower glass plate
Closed it
Turn on the machine
Turn the vacuum pump on and let these go up to 0.5 bar
If this is reached, slide the tray back and turn the lights on
Put the timer on 3 min
Step 4: Removing the Light Resistant Layer
To remove the light resistant layer:
Pour the positive developer in a reservoir
If the timer of the lightbox is 0, remove the pcb and put it for 1 min in the developer
Rinse the PCB thoroughly with water, until all the developer is disappeared.
Make sure you put on the gloves because the developer will irritated skin
Step 5: Etching the PCB
Make sure you have the gloves and safety glasses on and make sure the room is ventilated
Pour 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a non-metalic reservoir and then do only 100 ml of hydrochloric acid in
Add the developed PCB in the acid bath.
The copper between the circuit must disappear completely. see movie 1 and 2
Move the container gently
This takes about 5 min.
If all the copper is off then rinse with water and dry.
Step 6: Drilling and Soldering
Now you can drill the holes for the components and then soldering
Step 7: Result
Now you see way you have to mirror the circuit that you drawed otherwise you 'll have a mirrored PCB
Like the foto
17 Comments
7 years ago
Is this a tutorial for people that already know how to make PCBs? There are too many unexplained items in this! What is that machine? A little more help, please.
7 years ago on Introduction
Where can you get concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide? I've seen yours is 33%, the one I normally use is only 3%, and it normally takes half an hour to completely etch the circuit.
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Try your local pool supply. It is Baquacil algecide #2. It is about $15/gallon. Don't get it on your hands it burns your skin.
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Check chemical supply shops. I've bought that several times for bleaching game skulls, so far had no issues buying and it's pretty cheap too.
Reply 7 years ago
Don't quote me on this, but perhaps boiling out the water to concentrate it further?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
"...boil out the water to concentrate it further..."
- tisaconundrum 2015
7 years ago on Introduction
For another way... simpler, no photographic element... see...
http://www.arunet.co.uk/tkboyd/ele1bp.htm
Doesn't make such GOOD PCBs, but IS simpler! More "beginner friendly"
7 years ago on Introduction
very nice.
wish i had this as a guide in my high school tech class.
i had a few problems making boards because no one seemed to know what they were doing exactly.
the teacher had no real method beside thin tape and tossing it in a bucket of etching solution.
which made things turn out less than desired.
you would cry if you seen some of the unorganized lines on some of the other students pcbs..
i actually still have one of them for parts. i can post a picture of it on here as an example of what not to do. lol
Reply 7 years ago
Do post, I'd love to share in your pain
Reply 7 years ago
man... it appears i tossed out the one the other student did that looked terrible but i found one online that looked similar, but not as bad. the lines looked line this but had breaks in it due to the poor etching processes.
---> http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c87/gimmeabone/DSC00645.jpg <---
the curved lines just look so unclean and done with so little care. lol
these other two are mine from 2009 they were from a dot matrix business card instructable i seen.
i made the lines too close together and had to separate them with and exacto knife.
this was using the thin tape and permanent marker and tossing it in a bucket of etching solution. you can still see the tape on one of them which was to keep the jumper leads from touching the lines underneath.
one was scaled up too much and needed a adapter and just looks terrible. lol
one was made my first year in the class and the other the second year. neither of them worked really.. i couldn't get the pic kit 2 programmer to cooperate right.
the teacher was awesome but it would of been better to have been taught better methods of doing things.
7 years ago on Introduction
Attention: You forget make mirror at layout before printing.
So final result is reverse.
7 years ago
You from south africa bus? Or german?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
People from Germany speak German, they don't speek Dutch. Only people from The Netherlands, Belgium speak Dutch and in South Africa they Speak Afrikaans (sort of Dutch).
My 2 (euro)cents (from Belgium)
7 years ago on Introduction
How you get rid of the acid/copper solution after you have completed the board?
7 years ago on Introduction
33% hydrogen peroxide is extremely dangerous. It should not be used by anyone without the proper training, protective gear and laboratory setting. It is caustic, explosive, neurotoxic, can burn the lungs, affect the cardiovascular system and blood. Look up any MSDS on concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Here is one
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924299
7 years ago
That looks nice.
7 years ago on Introduction
Great tutorial, thanks for sharing this!