PCB TONER method revisited

[Wendymott]

Hi Peeps. Sorry to revisit the pcb / Toner resist method, but I wonder if any of you out there in Forum world have any ideas. I have reasonably perfected well 90% the method of Toner deposit onto copper. However, when making Ground plane pcb's, as in one side plain un etched copper, has anyone got a better method of etch resist than Nail Varnish ? Its quick and relatively cheap, but its a beggar to remove after, at present I use brilllo pad, not nail varnish remover.
I was wondering if anyone has a better method. Plastic tape is ok for small boards, overlapping widths can cause unseen gaps. I wondered about cling film.
AND has anyone perfected a method of "Double sided pcb's. THanks in antisipation.

[Radio Wrangler]

Originally Posted by Wendymott

AND has anyone perfected a method of "Double sided pcb's. THanks in antisipation.

Send files off to China?
Rejoice in plater through holes, crazy resolution etc. For what they charge, it isn't worth your time messing about.

David

[kellys_eye]

ISTR using a 'blue' paint-on product used as a mold release for fibreglass products. Others used a PVA solution.

[David G4EBT]

When I've etched double-sided boards with a ground-plane on one side, I've just used sticky backed 'Fablon'. I've often made single-sided PCBs using Fablon as the resist, cut out with a craft knife. For the power supply board on the PW Purbeck 'scope, and the solid-state 'Cirkit' HF PA, which featured in R&EW many years ago. (See pic attached).

Hope that helps.

[Electronpusher0]

I have used the toner method relatively successfully in the past but I always need to touch up with nail varnish or similar, never had 100% success. Some folks iron on the toner, I used several passes through a laminator.
Acetone gets rid of the nail varnish better than nail varnish remover as its almost 100% acetone.

I now use KiCad even for prototypes and send the Gerbers to JLC pcb.
For circuits that are likely to require tweaking I add some uncommitted pads.

Peter

[Wendymott]

Hi Peeps. Re David Wrangler. I use PCBWAY for my finished items, I am not wasting time or money on unproved items. Kelly'seye. PVA, brilliant although water based... does it become impervious , peter. Yes I use nail varnish for touch up. anyway. David G4EBT. That sounds a good idea. Peter I use Diptrace for my arts, but again for prototypes I prefer home processing.

[dmowziz]

Originally Posted by David G4EBT

When I've etched double-sided boards with a ground-plane on one side, I've just used sticky backed 'Fablon'. I've often made single-sided PCBs using Fablon as the resist, cut out with a craft knife. For the power supply board on the PW Purbeck 'scope, and the solid-state 'Cirkit' HF PA, which featured in R&EW many years ago. (See pic attached).

Hope that helps.

Hi David

I'm sorry, do you mean that when a sticky Fablon is added to one side of a board then it goes into a ferric chloride. When it's out, that side of the board doesn't lose the copper? (resist)

And the fablon can then be cut with a knife to reveal the copper (ground side)?

Thanks

[David G4EBT]

No.

You stick the Fablon onto the laminate, then draw the design on the Fablon, then using a craft knife, cut away the areas that you want to be etched away, leaving the ground plane areas as the etch resist. Then after etching, you peel off the other pieces of Fablon. So for example, all the black areas of the board which I showed were left in place, and all thee white areas are where the Fablon had been cut away and the board had been etched.

I hope that's clearer.

[dmowziz]

Yeahh, it's clearer. Thanks

Please will this , do the job :
https://www.amazon.ca/Fablon-FAB1006...%2C205&sr=8-11

If not, can you kindly show me a pic of one that will.


Thank you very much

[David G4EBT]

You really need matt white Fablon, so you can stick the Fablon on the laminate, then use a pencil or ‘Sharpie’ and a straightedge to draw out your design on the Fablon. Then you can cut out the design with a craft knife, remove the waste areas, leaving the rest of the design on the laminate as the etch resist.

Then after etching, peel off the remaining Fablon.

I think you should be able to get Matt white Fablon on Amazon in Canada.

Hope that helps.

[dmowziz]

Thanks! Please take a look at this
https://www.amazon.ca/ORACAL-Reposit...jaz10cnVl&th=1


And I actually have a printer that I do toner transfer with... I need this method for the ground but I'll go with white. Might decide to draw the circuit some days.

Will that (in the link) be good?

Thanks

[David G4EBT]

That looks OK but at 15 feet long, it’s a big roll.

It the UK, department stores sell shorter rolls than that.

If you just need to apply it as a ground plane rather than as a PCB layout, {for which you can use the toner transfer method}, the colour doesn’t matter of course.

[dmowziz]

Thanks David

It works as desired. Thanksss

At times, It's fascinating how one's problem might look so big but there's someone in the world that has an easy solution...

Like people can fast and pray to God for a physical need but yet, it is another man that will be the answer to the prayer.

Like people begging on the street, becoming wealthy might seem impossible to even think about.
But we can lend a helping hand to give one an education and that changes his/her life forever. The mountain isn't there anymore because of another man.
The man might not be around but surely, there's a man with a solution.

[dmowziz]

lol

Please by chance, do you have the "Applied microwave and Wireless Magazine"?
It is not online anymore


... and I'm very sorry Wendy, for jumping in

Stepping out.... My last post