Make your Printed Circuit Boards
Things needed:
Copper board, Ferric chloride(anhydrous), Iron (normal iron used for pressing clothes), Acetone, Photopaper, Printer(Laser printer preferably), Drill(0.8mm dia drill bit)
Software Needed:
Express PCB.
Process:
-Make a simple circuit using Express PCB ( Free software ).
-Print the circuit on a sheet of paper.
-Get the circuit photocopied on the photopaper (gloss side has to be used for printing). This is only necessary if you don’t have a laser printer at home. If you have got a laser printer, just take the printout directly on the photopaper.
-Cut the copper board to the required size. Wash it using acetone.
-Get an iron (normal iron used for pressing clothes). Put the photopaper on the copper board (with the ink side facing the copper side). Now press the hot iron against the photopaper with some force. Do this till the photopaper gets yellow.
-Remove the photopaper slowly from the sides of the copper board when it is hot. The ink should stick onto the board.
-Put ferric chloride in water, till it becomes dark in color. Put the copper board in it and leave it for some time.
-Copper will now be removed from your board. The only place where copper is left is below the laser ink ( toner ). Wash the board using acetone. Remove the ink from the board using acetone.
-You got something which is known as a PCB. Drill holes wherever necessary, Put in the electronic parts and solder them.
Precautions:
- Do not touch ferric chloride solution with bare hands.
- Use a mask while cutting the copper board and during etching.
- Do not put ferric chloride solution in sink after use.
