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For those making your own PCBs — Parallax Forums

For those making your own PCBs

idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
edited 2014-10-03 06:04 in General Discussion
Occassionally there is various chatter in the forum about making PCBs. I am curious just how many people dabble with it and what they prefer, so I am starting a poll.

Comments

  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,298
    edited 2014-09-30 17:52
    Most of the time, unless I need a very simple single-sided PCB, I send Gerbers to a fab (I guess that's photographic). I don't like SMD connectors -- the people I work with can be tough on electronics. Everything else (where possible) SMD is okay. With a friend's help, I cut a stencil on a laser-cutter to help with paste. Re-flow in a toaster oven Easy-peasy.

    The first set is an etch-at-home (PulsarProFX system) PCB for a Propeller mini; the second set is my IronMac shield for the DEFCON 22 badge. Both boards designed with DipTrace. IronMac shield was sent to GoldPhoenixPCB. It is a mix of SMD and through-hole.
    jinyo_bare_pcb.jpg
    800 x 600 - 88K
    prop-mini_carrier.jpg
    800 x 600 - 92K
    ironmac_shield.jpg
    1024 x 683 - 88K
    iron_mac_back.jpg
    800 x 600 - 79K
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2014-09-30 18:50
    Jon

    Good to hear from you.

    Yea, sending gerbers to the fab shop would most likely be photographic, unless they specifically stated they would be routed. If the boards were cut on a router, it would be obvious to you.
    With a friend's help, I cut a stencil on a laser-cutter to help with paste.

    I have heard the word "stencil" tossed around a little. What is the stencil for?

    It does not surprise me that you occasionally make simple boards yourself. I would imagine that you hate waiting just like me and want to test your ideas as soon as possible. I think Phil got tired of waiting and the mess of the photographic process, so he went with the router.

    I also think that if you had my tools, you would be creating boards all the time, just for trial runs, before sending them to the fab shop. I rarely use the tools at the moment, but I do have several boards to make, so that should change. At the present time, I have everything necessary to make some fairly nice prototypes, minus the solder mask, silk screen, and plated through holes, but I plan to investigate solutions to the remaining problems as time goes by.

    EDIT: On second thought, it almost looks like the shield was routed, but perhaps that is just the look of the fiberglass
  • garyggaryg Posts: 420
    edited 2014-09-30 18:51
    Hi
    So far all of the circuit boards I've made used Toner Transfer method.
    I like the idea of SMT and have made one board using Toner Transfer method and SMT resistors.
    In the very near future, I'll be attempting to use photographic process, more than likely by a fab shop.
    I'm attempting to get familiar with DipTrace.
    I think SMT is the now and future, but my eyes are not getting any younger.
    gg
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,298
    edited 2014-09-30 19:08
    I have heard the word "stencil" tossed around a little. What is the stencil for?

    The stencil helps you get solder paste onto the SMD pads and nowhere else. Manually applying paste is for the birds! In DipTrace there is a Gerber layer called Paste (I think Eagle calls it Cream) that is just for the SMD parts. You secure the stencil to the board (Rick built a little jig that helps) and squeegee the paste. Lift the stencil carefully and then start placing parts. Rick and I built 10 IronMac shields for DEFCON 22 in just a couple hours -- and that was with a lot of goofing off and drinking beer as we worked. Using a stencil definitely speeds up home production of PCBs.
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2014-09-30 19:30
    Interesting. Thanks for the info Jon.
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2014-10-02 21:37
    I'm using Roland EGX-350 engraver for PCB, front panels, enclosures, labels manufacturing. Using both SMT and through-hole components. Using almost all kind of SMT components, except ones that require special soldering skills/equipment, such as WL-CSP, BGA, QFN and so on. Can post photos if anyone interested.
  • DiscoveryDiscovery Posts: 606
    edited 2014-10-03 05:50
    I make PCBs and have done so for many years. I use Visual CAD for the layer layout of pads, lines, components, etc. then print a bottom trace and a reversed top trace to clear transparency sheets using my P1102w laser printer. Care must be taken with the "Stablized" transparencies since they will change dimension as they pass through the laser printer. To compensate on the dimensional change I print the transparencies scaled to 0.99786 in both x and y. I use pre-sensitized double-sided copper clad FR-4 boards. Both sides are exposed, developed, and etched. This technique produces professional type boards without plated through holes. Once the boards are etched they are placed on my CNC milling machine and all the various sized holes are automatically drilled.

    Discovery
  • FredBlaisFredBlais Posts: 380
    edited 2014-10-03 06:02
    @JonnyMac : The signature on the back of your PCB is really nice :)

    @garyg : I used OrCad, Altium Designer, Eagle and Diptrace is by far the best one (Altium is nice but $$$$). I hate Eagle and I don't know how people can use it, for me it is counterintuitive!

    @CuriousOne&all : I would like to see your custom made PCB!
  • FredBlaisFredBlais Posts: 380
    edited 2014-10-03 06:04
    Next year, I would really like to put my hands on the Nomad 883 (currently on Kickstarter near reward shipping) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZReH7zQ3cpc
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