The Shop > Electronics & IC Programing
How do you do your PCBs?
CrazyModder:
Nah, I don't want to ignore you, I just want your tanks! :drool:
Wasn't intending to downtalk your solution - non-native speaker and all such.
PekkaNF:
Thank you all very much. This has been most useful.
Hobby means very different things for most of us. And it all depends what we are doing :wave:
For me Traub and other machinery awemawson has looks pretty involved, but fits still into "hobby" category.
I also understand if a "hack" is enough for some.
I'm often somewhat in between, my background is electrical engineering, but never designed any of that for living. Still I have much respect to volts and amps. :zap:
I like much of the stuff that is professional/semiprofessional, even if I can't get the stuff. Often it is very nice to know alternative methods.
My motivation to PCB making is that I only make those assemblies I can't buy or does not exsist or needs combining some simple "stages" to get the end result. And I usually want it now. Therefore I like DIY PCBs even when they are crappy. I ahve manged to gobble something up, but SMD is a new challenge. There is a big danger that I will learn something.
I have made in past two sided PCBs, but only to solder trough components and no real vias. Plenty of jumpers. I have reached my limit and trying to take the next step.
I think I have seen writeups about the laminated solder masks same way than etch resists. Never tried one.
Is chemical tinning any alternative or addition to solder mask? Some fluxes seem to work differently even on kit boards.
Pekka
awemawson:
Pekka, I use 'electroless tinning' - it really is very easy - the cleaned etched copper clad board is immersed in a warm solution:
https://www.megauk.com/tin-plating.php
As an aside my personal take on the professional /amateur discussion is this: If some one joins and pushes their commercial products and services solely for their own benefit then they are spammers and should be removed - that's not what the forum is about. However if someone active in any of the spheres we discuss and enjoy here chips in and offers advice, or points to one of their products that would solve a problem someone has, or a process that they use then surely we can only benefit :scratch:
I'm sure that John Stevenson won't mind me quoting him as an example: he runs a commercial jobbing shop, is very knowledgeable regarding machining and CNC, and is involved with ArcEurotrade - one of our suppliers. His contributions to this and many other 'hobby' forums has been legion. I don't think that anyone here would want him to 'cease and desist'
Personally I've never made my living using any branch of mechanical engineering or CNC - it was always a hobby totally different from the industrial process control computers I earned my living looking after. Even before I retired I always would refuse to take payment for all those little jobs people bring you - no problem trading favours, but not actual payment, firstly as I didn't (and don't) want any local authority being able to claim I am 'commercial', and secondly I don't want the commercial and moral pressures of deadlines and specifications - after all, I do it 'cos I want to do it.
....... just my personal take, not necessarily Forum Policy - that's for Eric to set out.
CrazyModder:
I did not at all mean it in a derogative or "cease and desist" way. My comment with the unlucky word "commercial" in it should have read like this:
"You seem to have used these tanks in a professional way, they look much better than my randomly hacked diy tools."
Just to clear that up!
PK:
:-) Looks like the missus is drinking alone tonight then.
The last board I etched was done in glass tray over a gas hob using ammonium persulphate. I basically boil the solution with the board in it. I've used microwave ovens and her tupperware too.
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