Pictorial Guide to Making PCB (DIY)

[abasir]

Attached is my method for making PCB at home. May be it will be of assistance to those wanting to start making PCB at home.

The method uses the laser printer toner transfer with inkjet glossy photo paper as transfer media. I've been making PCB with 12mils tracks/clearance with 100% success.

[Pythagoras]

Thanks for doing that. I really appreciate you going to the effort for the rest of us.
That is a beautiful guide. Well done

[Mr.Chips]

What kind of glue do you use and which side goies down on the copper sheet, copy paper or photopaper?

How does the image get on the copper?

As you guessed it I'm a newbie in this area.

Thanks
Hager

[TinkerDJ]

Very nice how to. Can you tell me what paper you use?

I tried using kodak paper and it didn't work well at all. Had limited success with hp photo paper. Thanks.

[CJL5585]

1. Will this process work with an inkjet printer?

2. Can you give us more info on the paper required, and also a supplier.

Thanks,
Jerry

[superJOAT]

Thanks for the guide, nicely done.

Jerry, I've read elsewhere that it is the toner that transfers, so it needs to be a laser printer or copy machine.

[OCNC]

Originally Posted by abasir Attached is my method for making PCB at home. May be it will be of assistance to those wanting to start making PCB at home. The method uses the laser printer toner transfer with inkjet glossy photo paper as transfer media. I've been making PCB with 12mils tracks/clearance with 100% success.

Just to clarify... You make a print of the circuit on a full sheet of paper. You then locate over it (register) and glue down the leading edge of a piece of glossy inkjet photo paper. You then re-feed that composite sheet through the printer which gives you the circuit printed on the photo paper. You then heat transfer...etc.

Is this correct?

Chris

[TinkerDJ]

The ones i just made i didn't glue anything. I used a photo copier. So i just used the photo paper and printed my board design directly to it. Seems to have worked. I cleaned the copper board. Dried it then put the photo paper on the board and used an iron. The paper itself stuck right to the board. I haven't cleaned it up totally yet. But it seems to have worked.

[abasir]

Originally Posted by Mr.Chips What kind of glue do you use and which side goies down on the copper sheet, copy paper or photopaper? How does the image get on the copper? As you guessed it I'm a newbie in this area. Thanks Hager

Any glue will do (I'm using double sided tape). Print on normal paper first, then glue the photopaper (glossy side up) over the image AND print the artwork again. Remove the photopaper, place the printed side onto the copper and proceed with ironing.

[abasir]

Originally Posted by TinkerDJ Very nice how to. Can you tell me what paper you use? I tried using kodak paper and it didn't work well at all. Had limited success with hp photo paper. Thanks.

I'm using EPSON Glossy Photo Paper (120gm) meant for 1440dpi printing.

What is the problem?

If toner is not sticking, increase heat and iron slightly longer.
If toner expands (your tracks gets wider) then the iron is too hot.
Apply good pressure when ironing.

[abasir]

Originally Posted by CJL5585 1. Will this process work with an inkjet printer? 2. Can you give us more info on the paper required, and also a supplier. Thanks, Jerry

This process WILL NOT work with inkjet printer. The laserprinter or copier toner is made from plastic. Upon heating, it'll melt and sticks to the copper and act as etch resist during etching.

Paper as above reply.

[abasir]

Originally Posted by OCNC Just to clarify... You make a print of the circuit on a full sheet of paper. You then locate over it (register) and glue down the leading edge of a piece of glossy inkjet photo paper. You then re-feed that composite sheet through the printer which gives you the circuit printed on the photo paper. You then heat transfer...etc. Is this correct? Chris

YES... I'll update the guide later incorporating the Q&A here...