Great idea. Heat transfer ink might work, too. It may allow for finer detail. People use to use bubble jet printers and iron transfer the ink. That turned out great.
Use your 3d printer to oscillate the ferric chloride. You can have the heated bed warm the solution and some gcode that just moves the Y position back and forward for 15 minutes is all you need. Remember to turn off the home gcode to prevent the hot end squashing the container. Oh, that gets messy if you don't.
I love this video of yours. I am also into making small PCBs for my own little circuits. I've been using Micro Robotics transfer paper with acceptable results. We do have a vinyl cutter and I have thought about trying what you did but never got around to it. After seeing this video, I am definitely going to give it a try very soon. For agitating the ferric chloride, I built me a crude little "shaker" with a servo and a small ATTINY85 circuit to make the shaker platform swing back and forth, meaning I can do other things while waiting.
Thank you for the comment, really like the idea of the shaker. I heard that you can also use a 3d printer with the heatbed heated up and sway backwards and forwards using gcode.
You can cut your etching time down considerably by putting the board in the etchant with the copper side down. Also you should heat the etchant a bit. Use a few popsicle sticks to keep the board off the bottom of the container by propping up the edges. The sticks will be set diagonal against the edges of the container, which should be only slightly larger than the board. You need liquid a few inches deep. Sounds like a lot of trouble but the board will etch in about 15 minutes and there will be less undercutting of the resist. You will need to agitate as before.
Another way learned!!! 'will give it a try. I am using the heat transfer method now with photo paper (pain in the butt to clean after). I ordered heat transfer paper specifically for that. Let's see how it goes, but this method of yours is worth a try. Cheers
Very cool, I have a similar interest and I think I have the smaller cutter unit. It’s super precise. I actually use it to hold a fine-tipped pencil to write at 5pt font. It’s a remarkably precise device for the cost! Put a pen in there and use it to draw detailed pictures and you’ll see how fine-grained it is. :)
Great video I think you’re doing a marvellous job I am very new to PCB work but watching this video I’m definitely gonna get into it thank you so much for the video
@@FusionSource no problem I think doing projects like this it’s educating and so much fun I am definitely gonna do that I’m gonna go and buy A laminate cutting printer Can you recommend a model that will precisely cut very small ones as well I want to make all different types of boards and then get into very detailed boards with complex firmware upgrades and allsorts of stuff it’s gonna be great fun thank you so much for the video is giving me something to do it last I do a lot of wildlife photography and I repair camera lenses and cameras but this is gonna be so much fun again thank you so much We can share some ideas and make some really good stuff in the future thank you Mark
@@FusionSource the other things , were can I buy all parts and Materials to start me out can you Recommend somewhere to buy I have a Amazon account and an eBay account thanks mark
@@FusionSource some of the Equipment I have could Come in handy in the future I have a Nikon d850 and a sigma 60-600 and a Nikon 105mm macro lens and a Epson sure colour p900 which prints just over A2 I have a Roller tray which has A2 rolled paper and I have flash Equipment and triggers and constant light with a lot of soft box’s of all sizes I am going to get other Soldering station and some more test gear for Checking components I have got the Sekonic L-858D SPEEDMASTER Light meter which is handy for video work this is some of the Equipment I have which would be very handy
@@FusionSource one of the Boards I would like to make is a metal detector and a long-distance camera and microphone board or a 4G and 5G Booster to get my Internet faster on Vodafone
I'm very curious since the cricut maker can make deep cuts if you could just cut a pcb directly without doing the etching. I really don't want to have to deal with the acid.
Yes, I've always wanted a mini-milling machine and see if possible to make PCB boards without chemistry. We just need to invent a "dremel pen" to put in place of the Cricut pen, with appropriate calibrations for speed of cutting, depth, etc.
Hi Jai, It can cut small holes for the drill holes, so it should be able to cut for Surface Mount Components but you will have to design carefully and do the vinyl separation slowly and carefully. It is not extremely high resolution but I have been impressed by how small I can go. As far A4 transparent sheet, yes you can cut it but it will need to be stuck onto a cutting board.
Hi Kai, thank you for the question. I do not have the engraving tool for my machine so I am not sure if this will work. I am not sure if the machine will be able to cut into the copper. I will look for an opportunity to try test this.
@@FusionSource Ah OK. So the engraving tool is an extra add on that you have to buy. I didn't knew it. I don't have a cricut maker, but my mother in law has one.
@@diybiosensors Have you had a chance to test this with the engraving tool? What was the result? I would like to try this as well. Are you using designs for SMD or through-hole components? Any advice?
Howsit, it is just another method. It does work very well though, I have done the toner method a while back but this was just as good. I don't have a laser printer, so I used this method.
@@FusionSource Wow, I didn’t know about that first store… they have some interesting things. Makes me wonder what else is out there, that doesn’t come up when I Google for a component etc.
@@FusionSource honestly my generation is so reliant on the internet that if I search for something and it doesn’t come up, I assume it’s not available. But on the other hand, it is 2021, so I feel many stores will benefit from having an online catalogue at the least.
Great idea. Heat transfer ink might work, too. It may allow for finer detail. People use to use bubble jet printers and iron transfer the ink. That turned out great.
Use your 3d printer to oscillate the ferric chloride. You can have the heated bed warm the solution and some gcode that just moves the Y position back and forward for 15 minutes is all you need. Remember to turn off the home gcode to prevent the hot end squashing the container. Oh, that gets messy if you don't.
I love this video of yours. I am also into making small PCBs for my own little circuits. I've been using Micro Robotics transfer paper with acceptable results. We do have a vinyl cutter and I have thought about trying what you did but never got around to it. After seeing this video, I am definitely going to give it a try very soon. For agitating the ferric chloride, I built me a crude little "shaker" with a servo and a small ATTINY85 circuit to make the shaker platform swing back and forth, meaning I can do other things while waiting.
Thank you for the comment, really like the idea of the shaker. I heard that you can also use a 3d printer with the heatbed heated up and sway backwards and forwards using gcode.
You can cut your etching time down considerably by putting the board in the etchant with the copper side down. Also you should heat the etchant a bit. Use a few popsicle sticks to keep the board off the bottom of the container by propping up the edges. The sticks will be set diagonal against the edges of the container, which should be only slightly larger than the board. You need liquid a few inches deep. Sounds like a lot of trouble but the board will etch in about 15 minutes and there will be less undercutting of the resist. You will need to agitate as before.
Thank you for the great reply, I will try this.
I bet this guy has a well regulated heating and agitation machine somewhere which can just move the container back and forth a little.
Another way learned!!! 'will give it a try. I am using the heat transfer method now with photo paper (pain in the butt to clean after). I ordered heat transfer paper specifically for that. Let's see how it goes, but this method of yours is worth a try. Cheers
Very cool, I have a similar interest and I think I have the smaller cutter unit. It’s super precise. I actually use it to hold a fine-tipped pencil to write at 5pt font. It’s a remarkably precise device for the cost! Put a pen in there and use it to draw detailed pictures and you’ll see how fine-grained it is. :)
Will try that
Great video I think you’re doing a marvellous job I am very new to PCB work but watching this video I’m definitely gonna get into it thank you so much for the video
What a nice thing to say Marcus, truly made my day, thank you so much for that comment.
@@FusionSource no problem I think doing projects like this it’s educating and so much fun I am definitely gonna do that I’m gonna go and buy A laminate cutting printer Can you recommend a model that will precisely cut very small ones as well I want to make all different types of boards and then get into very detailed boards with complex firmware upgrades and allsorts of stuff it’s gonna be great fun thank you so much for the video is giving me something to do it last I do a lot of wildlife photography and I repair camera lenses and cameras but this is gonna be so much fun again thank you so much We can share some ideas and make some really good stuff in the future thank you Mark
@@FusionSource the other things , were can I buy all parts and Materials to start me out can you Recommend somewhere to buy I have a Amazon account and an eBay account thanks mark
@@FusionSource some of the Equipment I have could Come in handy in the future I have a Nikon d850 and a sigma 60-600 and a Nikon 105mm macro lens and a Epson sure colour p900 which prints just over A2 I have a Roller tray which has A2 rolled paper and I have flash Equipment and triggers and constant light with a lot of soft box’s of all sizes I am going to get other Soldering station and some more test gear for Checking components I have got the Sekonic L-858D SPEEDMASTER Light meter which is handy for video work this is some of the Equipment I have which would be very handy
@@FusionSource one of the Boards I would like to make is a metal detector and a long-distance camera and microphone board or a 4G and 5G Booster to get my Internet faster on Vodafone
I'm very curious since the cricut maker can make deep cuts if you could just cut a pcb directly without doing the etching. I really don't want to have to deal with the acid.
Unfortunately that will not work, the blades are not designed for that.
Yes, I've always wanted a mini-milling machine and see if possible to make PCB boards without chemistry. We just need to invent a "dremel pen" to put in place of the Cricut pen, with appropriate calibrations for speed of cutting, depth, etc.
Will it do smd pcb fine pitch cutting.?
Can we cut on A4 Transparent Paper?
Hi Jai, It can cut small holes for the drill holes, so it should be able to cut for Surface Mount Components but you will have to design carefully and do the vinyl separation slowly and carefully. It is not extremely high resolution but I have been impressed by how small I can go.
As far A4 transparent sheet, yes you can cut it but it will need to be stuck onto a cutting board.
The Cricut maker also have an engraving tool. Can you use it to engrave the circuit. Like with an CNC?
Hi Kai, thank you for the question. I do not have the engraving tool for my machine so I am not sure if this will work. I am not sure if the machine will be able to cut into the copper. I will look for an opportunity to try test this.
@@FusionSource Ah OK. So the engraving tool is an extra add on that you have to buy. I didn't knew it. I don't have a cricut maker, but my mother in law has one.
@@kaimildner2153 that's good question. I currently cut my PCBs with 3018 CNC and was also wondering if this cricut can do it as well.
@@kaimildner2153 I have the engraving tool...might give this a go.
@@diybiosensors Have you had a chance to test this with the engraving tool? What was the result? I would like to try this as well. Are you using designs for SMD or through-hole components? Any advice?
Is dit beter as om toner te gebruik?
Howsit, it is just another method. It does work very well though, I have done the toner method a while back but this was just as good. I don't have a laser printer, so I used this method.
you using permanent or temporary vinyl?
Hi, I am using Permanent vinyl
Where do you get the PCB materials and chemicals from, in Durban?
Ron-tomlin or Mantech. I went to Ron-Tomlin in Durban, rontomlin.co.za/
@@FusionSource Wow, I didn’t know about that first store… they have some interesting things. Makes me wonder what else is out there, that doesn’t come up when I Google for a component etc.
So glad I could help, yeah, Ron Tomlin have been around for many years but a lot of people do not know about it
@@FusionSource honestly my generation is so reliant on the internet that if I search for something and it doesn’t come up, I assume it’s not available.
But on the other hand, it is 2021, so I feel many stores will benefit from having an online catalogue at the least.
Doesent this method produce an ECB and not a PCB? (Etched Circuit Board) whatever its called it beats drawing them out with a pen and stencils LOL