PCB printing using home made method

Forget about the high rates of PCB printing machines. Here is a simple technique to print your PCBs at home using easily available material. It's called Etching.


Material required:

• Laser printer (use your friend's if you don't have one)
• Copper-clad laminate/PCB board (Google to find the vendor call Just Dial and they will tell you where to get one from)
• Electric Iron
• Ferric Chloride solution as etchant (Google or call Just Dial)

Procedure:

• Design the PCB layout on EAGLE(or any other PCB designing software)
• Print it using a laser printer(remember to print a mirror image of the layout). We specifically use the laser printer as the laser ink repels ferric chloride. Thus the part of PCB board which is covered with laser ink is not removed by ferric chloride and the rest of the copper is etched.

From The Tech Sauce

• Clean the surface of PCB board using sand paper to remove oxide layer or oil.
• Use an electric iron to press the printed layout on the PCB board.
• Put the board (with printed paper attached to it) in water for a few minutes. Rub the wet paper to remove it from the board.
• Use acetone(nail polish remover) to clean the board properly.

From The Tech Sauce

• Put the board in the ferric chloride solution. Leave it for a few minutes.

From The Tech Sauce

Thus, you have successfully printed your PCB at home.