Physical Computing – Custom PCB Tutorial

Making custom printed circuit boards

For our “TMG” media controller project we hoped to produce a number of the same EMG – stimulator circuits so that we could multiplex a higher resolution signal interface. This meant that we would either have to have a lot of bread boards or we could print circuit boards. While PCB services have come down in price a lot it can still be cheaper and faster to do it yourself. (Click through for more info)

: Designing a new circuit from scratch.

: Customizing your circuit in illustrator prior to printing

: Printing out your circuit on transfer film

Copper clad circuit board

Prepping your board

Cleaning and degreasing

Aligning your board on the transfer

Tacking the board down from reverse with a hot iron

Fusing the toner to the copper with an iron

Quenching the board and transfer in cold water

Removing the film

Transferred toner resist

Touching up with a sharpee

Etchant Solution

Placing the board into the etchant

Copper being disolved

Agitation

Now wash off the etchant with water.

Etched!

Removing the toner resist

Optional tinning solution

Tinned!

Ready for drilling and components