First PCB etch ever

[littlephil]

Hey guys,
I joined this forum because I discovered the Dr Boogie, and decided to build one. I've never had any electronics experience (apart from changing a pickup in my guitar), but I have some knowledge from studying Electronics and Further Electronics in Physics at school.
Heres my first PCB. I used the PnP method with Ammonium Persulfate. I think it turned out OK.
The rough parts are where I used an etch resistant pen (lifted a corner of the PnP before it was finished. Oops! )





EDIT: Crap! Couldnt see how bad that corner really was until I saw the pics up close

[Ice-9]

That looks very good for you 1st atempt at a pcb, Its a shame about the corner it may cause some continuity problems at some stage. What you can do is to flux over that area and apply some solder to build the track up, that should sort it.
Or once all the components are in place you could strip a piece of single core wire or use some of the component cutoff leads and route it along the track and again solder the lead in place.

[biggy boy]

Nice job man, looks good!

Glen

[MikeH]

At least that one will probably be useable.  My first pcb etch looked like a total nightmare.

[tranceracer]

Yes great job for your first board.  It took me 3-4 boards before making one that I could use but that was before I found this forum. 

Very usable, I agree w/ Ice-9 don't cut the component leads on the traces that are etched away just bend them over and use them to connect to the next component..

[littlephil]

Yes great job for your first board.  It took me 3-4 boards before making one that I could use but that was before I found this forum. 

Very usable, I agree w/ Ice-9 don't cut the component leads on the traces that are etched away just bend them over and use them to connect to the next component..

I was going to do either that or build up the trace with solder once all the components were in place.
Next thing is to etch the enclosure (havent got any of the components yet), but I dont know if it will work. Does Ammonium Persulfate etch aluminium?

[jrod]

Nice job, man!

That's WAY better than the ones I've been trying to do!

How did you copy the image onto the PnP? Laser printer? I've been using the copy machine at work and I am getting terrible results!

[littlephil]

Nice job, man!

That's WAY better than the ones I've been trying to do!

How did you copy the image onto the PnP? Laser printer? I've been using the copy machine at work and I am getting terrible results!

Yeah, just used my $90 Canon laser printer.
Anyone know if Ammonium Persulfate will etch Aluminium?

[StereoKills]

Yeah, just used my $90 Canon laser printer.
Anyone know if Ammonium Persulfate will etch Aluminium?

We were doing some experiments at work with etching some copper clad aluminum (we didn't want the aluminum to etch). From our tests, the aluminum etched just as quick if not faster than the  copper.