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Forum Index : PCB Manufacturing : New forum section - PCB stuff

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Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5078

Posted: 02:18pm 11 May 2016

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Introducing a new forum section where members can discuss making PCB's.

Use this new area for topics like....

PCB and schematic design software tutorials, tips and questions.
PCB manufacturing tips and questions, like etching, UV, cnc.
Suggested PCB suppliers, no flaming.

Its also place to share your own PCB designs and files.

Glenn

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ

SteveP
Newbie

Joined: 21/03/2013
Location: United States
Posts: 19

Posted: 05:02pm 18 May 2016

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Ladya of Adafruit has Design hints, resources and references including board manufacturing companies
http://www.ladyada.net/library/pcb/

For viewing Gerbers, there is the free Viewplot
http://www.viewplot.com/

Advanced Circuits or 4PCB offers free board file check report
http://www.4pcb.com/free-pcb-file-check/

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2916

Posted: 07:33pm 19 May 2016

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Lads, Lasses,

I will add to the Online Gerber viewer..

gerber-viewer.com

Kind Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

marcwolf

Senior Member

Joined: 08/06/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 119

Posted: 05:22pm 20 May 2016

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Hi Folks.

I actually have been making my own PCB;s for a time now - getting down to mounting SMD's so the detail is really good.

Software - the free version of DipTrace. A lot of people have made libraries for the PicAxe products.

There are some products called PCB in a Box and they work very well. It's a Toner transfer system.

Now I have a HP Laserjet P1005 for printing out the positive image. As it is an older printer it uses real toner and gets the difinaion down. I have also used this on the blue "Press and Peel" from Jaycar with excellent effect.

To get the transfer onto the copper I have a modified Lowel LOOL280 laminator. The modifications are very easy and you can find them from here.
PCB Laminator

I have also made a small etchant tank using perspex and a aquarium bubbler.. Very simple and there are lots of plans on the web.

Very happy with the results of all of this too :)

Coding Coding Coding..
Keep those keyboards coding..
RAW CODE!!!!!

plover

Guru

Joined: 18/04/2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 302

Posted: 10:26pm 01 Jun 2016

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marcwolf

What about showing photo of a couple of boards as encouragement for people considering such route?

marcwolf

Senior Member

Joined: 08/06/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 119

Posted: 10:09pm 04 Jun 2016

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plover said marcwolf

What about showing photo of a couple of boards as encouragement for people considering such route?

Most of my boards are with other people, or populated. However here are 2 boards that I made. The one on the left is for a small OP Amp with trimmer resistor, and the one on the right is for a friends project..
That was a board I discarded because of defects however you can see how fine the prints can go. My laminator was not hot enought when I ran that one.

Coding Coding Coding..
Keep those keyboards coding..
RAW CODE!!!!!

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