DIY PCB QUESTIONS

[endorphin]

I got some questions I've been looking at the Univibe In A Crybaby Shell at Geofex and I would really like to have one but I dont know how to etch nor have the cash to buy the stuff and start right now, so I heard before that you can get some layouts sent to companies who make the board for you. Does anyone know about this or does it themselves???

[J0K3RX]

I know some PCB companies will do samples (a couple of boards) for potential customers but I have never tried that... It really is easy and doesn't cost hardly anything...
Check this link, it has a good tutorial...
http://www.riccibitti.com/pcb/pcb.htm

I bought some glossy photo paper and found that it works VERY good... But, I have used magazine paper also and it works good as well..
I guess the biggest thing is that you have a laser printer.. If you don't have that then you are outa luck unless you use a sharpie lol 

Good luck..!

[nomorebetts]

You could always follow the PCB layout and replicate it using perf board.

[smallbearelec]

You could always follow the PCB layout and replicate it using perf board.

That would be a godawfully difficult job, even for an experienced perfboard builder. I think a better way to approach this would be to have J D Sleep (who already offers the regular Univibe board at generalguitargadgets.com) ask R. G. Keen for permission to get made the swell pedal version. I will drop a line to J D and see if I can begin to make it happen. If it works out, I will make sure that the Small Bear Stock List has all of the odd bits and pieces needed and do a spreadsheet with SKU numbers.

Regards
SD

[chi_boy]

There are also people on the board that will make them for you for a reasonable fee.  John Lyons is a notable choice and is well respected.  I'm sure there are others too, but I have only dealt with John.  You might try posting in the for sale area to request the service.

There is also http://www.guitarpcb.com/.  They make nice quality boards too and offer the service to make customs also.

[egasimus]

As always, it's a tradeoff between time and money, and etching at home is likely to be much cheaper than ordering boards. Beside PCB and etchant, all you need is glossy paper, access to a laser printer, and a clothes iron.

You don't even have to etch in Ferric Chloride - I make my etchant from HCl (muriatic acid, pool acid, sold in hardware stores) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide, found in pharmacies). I use 3% peroxide, and mix my etchant in a ratio of 1:2 (HCl to H2O2); adjust to scale if you get some other concentration of chemicals.

Both FeCl and HCl/H2O2 need to be quite warm to work. You could put the etchant and board in a sealed container, and plop that in a larger container full of hot water. Or, my favourite useless trick, stirring with the air flow from a hot air gun.