Print your own PCBs

[theehman]

http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/pcbinkjet.html

[JisforJustin]

Cool, but I was hoping for conductive ink to bypass the etching process altogether. Maybe some day. 

[bobp1339]

Not that it makes too much difference, but it only uses 1/32" PCB?

Other than that, I love it!  Thanks for the post!

[soggybag]

That sounds pretty nifty. Too bad my printer is always on the fritz. The price is not too bad either.

[R.G.]

Now if they could only replace the green ink cartridge with a spindle for driving an 0.032" carbide bit, they'd REALLY have something! 

[Kearns892]

Has anyone tried this? I've been wanting to start making my own PCBs (been using Perf up until now), and this looks so much simpler than acid baths, touch ups, irons, and toner. I would have had to buy a toner a printer anyways, so the cost wont be that much different.

[soggybag]

Anyone who hasn't tried to etch their own boards should give it a try. It's not as hard as it looks, and it costs less than $65. Prepare to make a few mistakes at first.

If the etchent makes you nervous. Try putting a small amount in a small zip lock bag just big enough for your PCB. I have pretty good luck with this. Another method, that I have not tried, but have seen a few tutorials on is, using a sponge. Soak a small amount of ferric chloride in a sponge and wipe the PCB.

The printer looks cool. But, the old school method is pretty cheap and doesn't require special equipment.

[Kearns892]

You see I find myself in a position where I would have to buy a used printer anyways, and the cost difference doesnt seem that huge, especially if this is much more efficient and better in the long run. As a student, I really dont have the funds to box many pedals let alone spend money on start up fees for various techniques.

[JisforJustin]

Has anyone tried this? I've been wanting to start making my own PCBs (been using Perf up until now), and this looks so much simpler than acid baths, touch ups, irons, and toner. I would have had to buy a toner a printer anyways, so the cost wont be that much different.

Just to clarify, the only part of the process this bypasses is ironing the trace image onto the board. In other words you print the image directly onto the board rather than printing onto PNP blue and then ironing it on. You still have to etch the board (acid bath) as per usual.

[~arph]

And the ink will stay on in the etchant?

[theehman]

And the ink will stay on in the etchant?

It should.  They state: Special Inkjet PCB Resist Prefilled Inside a Black Refill Cartridge

[~arph]

Ah, I did not read that.. All I saw was an unclear movie printing a PCB. with an unclear result and nothing on the etching process, so I was sceptical.

[theehman]

Definitely a poorly made video.  They could have made the quality better, cut out some of the printing footage (maybe said "30 seconds later"), and then shown the finished board before and after etching.  I think that would give them more sales.

[Taylor]

Cool, but I was hoping for conductive ink to bypass the etching process altogether. Maybe some day. 

Conductive ink is already here. In fact, I think the very first PCBs were made with conductive ink, thus the term "printed circuit board". Check it out:

http://store.sra-solder.com/product.php?xProd=6028

[oldschoolanalog]

Conductive ink is already here. In fact, I think the very first PCBs were made with conductive ink, thus the term "printed circuit board". Check it out:
http://store.sra-solder.com/product.php?xProd=6028

Thanks for the link. That store has some really cool stuff!

[Taylor]

I just got an Aoyue soldering station from them. Aoyue makes Hakko clones for (in the case of my station) 1/4 of the price. I'm really liking the station so far.

Sorry for the derail...

[puretube]

Today in our local newspaper...

this radio on a printed PCB

does work 

(http://www2.efi.fh-nuernberg.de/labs/me/me3/en-index.htm)