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Making a Hand Drawn PCB. by Ohm on March 26, 2007
Table of Contents Making a Hand Drawn PCB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Intro: Making a Hand Drawn PCB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Step 2: Deg the circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Step 3: Drilling the board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Step 4: Drawing the traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Step 5: Etching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Step 6: Cleaning the PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Intro: Making a Hand Drawn PCB. For my latest electronics project I decided to make a resistor substitution box, instead of just using another perf-board I decided to make a pcb for it so I could document the process and make an instructable. I decided to do this because I have yet to see anyone do it on Instructables so I figured it would be a good thing to share. This process works well for simple circuits that do not have a lot of small parallel bus lines in them, I have done a few guitar stomp boxes this way as well.
Step 1: Materials Materials to design and Draw the board: -Paper and Pencil -Ruler -Sharpee -Tape -Scissors -Tiny #65 twist bit (0.035" which is good for most electronic components) -Dremal or pin vise to drill holes, the Dremal is the obvious winner here -Copper clad PC board Materials to etch the board: -Ferric Chloride(FC), which is used to etch the board CAUTION Ferric Chloride is a very corrosive liquid the vapor well cause steel to rust, therefor one must take all precautions nessessery in order to protect yourself as it well cause nasty burns and alike. So therefore you well also need -Rubber Gloves -Safety Glasses -Paper towels to clean up spillage -A well ventalated work area as the vapor is also quite nasty and not good to breath in. Aside from all the safety stuff you need, -A small resealable plastic container to put the FC into for etching and storage afterwards. -A larger plastic container that the small one well go into for water and storage of materials afterwards. -Warm water, goes in larger container to heat the FC.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Step 2: Deg the circuit Using paper and pencil design the layout of the circuit, it is easiest to do this as a top view of the board, it helps to also have all the different components on hand to help with spacing and placement. As a side note also make sure to design the layout so that it well fit on the board. If you already have a pre-designed layout you can skip this part. Here is what my layout looks like for the resistor substitution box.
Step 3: Drilling the board. -Next you well want to make a copy of the design that is a reverse of the original, if you drew it in reverse or the one you have is already reversed just make a regular copy of it. -Cut the copy of the layout out with scissors leaving some on either side so you can fold it around the PCB and tape it in place. -Now using the tape, tape the design onto the copper side of the PCB. Mine is on the other side because I did not bother to make a reversed copy of it. -With the #65 drill bit use the layout to drill a hole in the center of all the solder pads for the individual components. I like to set the board over something to catch the small fiberglass dust generated by the drilling, in this case a small glass dish.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Step 4: Drawing the traces -After you have drilled all the holes remove the copy of the design from the PCB and clean off all the dust. -Using the Sharpie draw a solder pad around all the holes you drilled, helps to have a fresh pen with a sharp point for this, make sure the pen leaves a nice bold line otherwise it well not resist the FC as well. -Now using the reversed copy of the layout as a reference draw in all of the traces with a Sharpie, if you make a mistake you can use alcahol on a bit of paper towel to erase the error. -You can also use the Sharpie to add text to the board for connections or whatever. -If you have not done so already, cut your board(s) out from the rest of the PCB stock.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Step 5: Etching -Start off by finding a clean dry place where you can safely etch the circuit board, preferably outside. -Put gloves and safety glasses on. -Make sure you put your gloves and safety glasses on, Ferric Chloride is nasty stuff. -Take your small container and pour about 1/4" to 1/2" of Ferric Chloride into it. -Fill the larger container with warm water about 1" deep. -Drop PCB into the Ferric Chloride, copper side up and place the small container into the water in the larger container. -Gently rock the small container in the water so as to keep the FC moving which helps with the etching process. -In about 5-7 minuites you should start to see the copper start to desolve away, notice the areas where the traces a drawn are uneffected. -After about 10-12 miniutes the board should be completely etched, at which time you should emmediatly remove the PCB and drop it into the water in the larger container to rinse it and then dry it off on the paper towel. -When you are done put the cover on the small container, you can use the Ferric Chloride over again a few times, and pour out the water in the larger container and rinse it out. You can use the larger container to store the small container and your extra Ferric Chloride that is still in the original bottle.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Step 6: Cleaning the PCB -Using 0000 Steel wool clean the Sharpie off the the traces. -Populate the board with components.
Related Instructables
New simple method for corrosion PCB by kingcm
How To Make A PCB by PARKOUR123
How to make a PCB Method 2 by PARKOUR123
Adding Custom Graphics to EAGLE PCB Layouts by iobridge
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Fantastic Double Sided PCBs at home using photoresist method by fluxuss
Make Your Own Multi Colour PCB by icecreamterror
Comments 36 comments Add Comment
beehard44 says:
Aug 18, 2010. 10:33 PM REPLY
i read you can use wax instead of sharpie... might make an 'ible next week
shadowkiller says:
Feb 7, 2010. 5:36 AM REPLY
Hi, I used a uniball pen instead of a sharpie. Would that work or will I need a sharpie???
Ohm says:
Feb 7, 2010. 8:23 AM REPLY I am not sure, I have always used a Sharpee, if you are willing to experiment try it and let us know, otherwise get a Sharpee and redo it to be safe.
shadowkiller says:
Feb 7, 2010. 10:55 AM REPLY
I just tried and It kind of worked. Most of it came off. Oh well, Back to the drawing board.
Derin says:
Apr 6, 2010. 7:05 AM REPLY
Use any OHP or permanent marker. My electronics book says a pen you can use is the Edding 140S.
bobfit says:
Jan 28, 2010. 11:07 AM REPLY I have not been happy with the Sharpie pen as it sometimes washes away in the etchant, especially if you are using a foam brush to speed up the etching. Nail polish works but it is difficult to get even traces. Recently I bought a Testors enamel paint marker (available at Michaels or maybe your local hobby shop). I sharpened the wide tip to a point and proceeded to draw the circuit. Works like a charm. For IC's paint a bar for the the entire pin row then remove the paint with a knife between pin holes. I use a Radio Shack universal pc board as a drilling jig to locate the pin holes before painting. Use lacquer thinner to remove the paint.
Ohm says:
Jan 28, 2010. 12:36 PM REPLY Great tip, I never really do the foam brush bit so I never noticed any problem with the sharpee in that way but the paint pin sounds like a good idea all the way around, I well have to give it a try the next time I do one. With your permission I would like to add the paint pin to the materials list, credited to you of course.
raykholo says:
Mar 28, 2009. 7:14 AM REPLY combining this idea with another tutorial--- would it be possible to transfer an eagle schematic onto the board using UV light, then following ur instructable of tracing it over with a super fine sharpie and etching it?
dagenius says:
Nov 2, 2009. 4:43 PM REPLY
There would be no point. Might as well just use the UV for everything. You would gain nothing by using both.
Dipankar says:
Jul 26, 2009. 2:37 AM REPLY
Check this out. Draw your circuit directly on the copper board and drill the holes. Paint the Circuit with NAIL POLISH. Then start the Etching process. The Nail polish will save your circuit from being etched. The places not covered by the nail polish will be eached. Job done.
charlieb000 says:
Aug 13, 2009. 10:18 PM REPLY
hmm maybe correction fluid? the type of pen that the shop here sells to mark is a "paint" pen.
Ohm says:
Jul 26, 2009. 2:59 PM REPLY
Yeah thats another way to do it, I think the Sharpee method is much easier to do and gives cleaner/finer lines.
dcutter1 says:
Feb 9, 2009. 3:59 PM REPLY Anyone ever try the type of pens that have metal in the ink and are prmanent like this one - Sanford Silver Coat and Gold Coat Markers Permanent, fadeproof, waterproof. Metallic ink works on most surfaces. Acid-free.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Ohm says:
Feb 9, 2009. 7:50 PM REPLY I know there is a special pen that you can buy to repair pcb traces, it might be interesting to see what kind of conductivity that the stanford inks have and again it would be only for repairs as you couldn't solder too it.
dcutter1 says:
Feb 10, 2009. 6:24 AM REPLY I guess I was a little miss-leading in pointing out the metallic pens. I was just pointing out there might be better type ink pens that could be used then the permanent marker pens to hand draw circuits for later etching. Maybe they would less likely be undercut by the acid.
gauravkpatil.973 says:
Jan 2, 2009. 6:03 AM REPLY
Why we use Ferric Chloride? Is there any other way for Ecthing Process?
Ohm says:
Jan 2, 2009. 11:39 AM REPLY Because I had it, simple as that, it is nasty stuff though. If you do some searching there is an instructable on making a homemade etching solution that is cheaper and I think I little safer, when my FeCl runs out I well be making some of that stuff.
guitarman63mm says:
Jul 18, 2007. 9:54 PM REPLY i tried doing this before, it didn't work well to say the least the ferric went under the sharpie, and through the copper , leaving me with barely any traces all 3 of my homemade stompboxes didn't work, none of the traces stayed on, but i still tried anyways, so now i have $200 in wasted parts :\ not quite sure what i could do to salvage the stuff
n0ukf says:
Mar 25, 2008. 8:38 PM REPLY Perhaps you didn't make the traces heavy enough to resist the etchant. A fairly fresh sharpie would work the best, not a very used one that will no longer make a solid black line.
T3h_Muffinator says:
Nov 23, 2007. 4:31 AM REPLY I'm trying to make my own pcb using the same process: any clue on how effective the "ultra-fine tip" markers or different colored sharpies are?
Ohm says:
Nov 24, 2007. 2:37 PM REPLY I am not too sure how the ultra fine pens well do or the colored pens either, what would probably be a good idea is to take a small square of pcb and test some of the different pens out. I do know it works best if the lines are nice and bold so I think the biggest thing is to make sure you have a good layer of ink down.
Botfly says:
Mar 27, 2007. 11:29 AM REPLY
What is the proper way to dispose of the toxic stew?
dentsinger says:
Oct 12, 2007. 6:44 AM REPLY I wonder if there's a way to filter and reclaim the copper from the etching waste, then re-use the ferric chloride. I've never etched pcb's, but this does sound like something that needs to be addressed properly.
inertia18 says:
May 10, 2007. 9:52 PM REPLY
put this in a dark colored bottle mix with water until on the brim of the bottle then bury it
cirano says:
Apr 2, 2007. 11:16 PM REPLY I reading somewhere that used ferric chloride should be mixed with baking soda inorder to neutralize it and make it safe for disposal. (please feel free to set me straight)
zachninme says:
Aug 6, 2007. 9:45 PM REPLY
Actually, washing soda, not baking. (Very different stuffs indeed ;-))
bustedit says:
Aug 8, 2008. 12:03 PM REPLY is washing soda also called baking powder? i always confuse baking powder and baking soda, so I am not allowed to bake...im a griller and a saute-er.
zachninme says: Washing soda is not baking soda is not baking powder! Washing soda is sodium carbonate Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and baking powder is a mixture of baking soda, a alkali, and a dry acid such as cream of tartar. None can be substituted for one-another. However, you can make baking powder using the recipe above.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Aug 8, 2008. 4:37 PM REPLY
awang8 says:
Dec 21, 2008. 12:02 AM REPLY Baking soda is a alkali itself so the alkali doesn't do much but the dry acid will make it react as soon as it gets near something with a pH around 7 (or a pH that IS 7.)
bustedit says:
Aug 8, 2008. 6:50 PM REPLY
and i can make baby powder with old dried babies
cirano says:
Aug 8, 2007. 6:53 PM REPLY Ah! Thanks for the correction. That is completely different indeed. I wonder if someone can actually post the chemical reaction that shows the neutralization process?
microman171 says:
Mar 27, 2007. 1:44 PM REPLY
You store it in a jar until it doesnt work anymore then you pour it down the drain with LOTS of water
ARVash says:
Mar 27, 2007. 7:24 PM REPLY Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be managed in an appropriate and approved waste facility. Although not a listed RCRA hazardous waste, this material may exhibit one or more characteristics of a hazardous waste and require appropriate analysis to determine specific disposal requirements. Processing, use or contamination of this product may change the waste management options. State and local disposal regulations may differ from federal disposal regulations. Dispose of container and unused contents in accordance with federal, state and local requirements. Ahem http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/f1080.htm a simple MSDS sheet :P google is your best friend.
i.c.rhodes says:
May 23, 2007. 5:29 PM REPLY How would you go about converting a schematic to a pcb layout manually, with no software. I would like to teach students how to do this before they go on to using layout software.
Ohm says:
May 23, 2007. 7:33 PM REPLY The easiest way to do it is to draw the circuit out with all of the components in there actual form, ie transistors would be drawn with there leads in the right order and ic's would be drawn as a box with all the leads sticking out and the connections made around it in a planer fashion. The biggest thing is to try and draw the circuit diagram in planer form, ie no connections crossing without connecting, you can of course have jumpers on top of the board to go over other traces and you can also have traces go between solder pads for another component like a resistor. Then all you have to do is copy that to the pcb and go from there, reversed of course. It helps to use graph paper as well. From there it is just trial and error and after a while you start to figure out what works well and what does not.
royalestel says: Cool--this seems the most straightforward way to make a PCB I've seen. Thanks for posting this!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Hand-Drawn-PCB./
Mar 27, 2007. 2:55 PM REPLY