§ PCB design at home

Required things --
1. PCB design software - PCB Wizard
2. LASER printer
3. Mag zine paper
4. Ferric chloride
5. Copper Platted PCB
6. Hand Gloves
7. Electric iron
8. Hand drill
9. Cello Tape
10.Plastic tub
11.Small Hacksaw
12.Scale,pencil,scrubber..etc.

Step 1: Design your circuit in PCB Wizard software which will automatically design your PCB or you can design your PCB manually.

layout

real world

Step 2:Print the layout on magazine paper using LASER printer.

LASER printer  (CANON 2900B)

Step3. Cut the desired size of copper platted PCB using hacksaw and after cutting wash this piece. 

Step4.Put the paper in opposite direction on the copper platted PCB and tape it.

Step5.Switch on the iron set it in high HOT mode and Iron the PCB with  uniformly presser by hand about 10 min.This is very important step; if you don't do this step properly and with patience your circuit tracks get braked.(in step 7)

Step6. When the impression of the circuit looking outside the paper (as shown in figure below) stop doing iron and dip it into the hot water carefully and wait for 5 min.; don't touch PCB directly because it's too hot.

Step 7: Now keep out the PCB from water and slowly remove the paper from it. Masking of PCB is completed.

Step8: After masking it’s time for etching. For etching process etching solution is required. We can use easily available  ferric chloride. For safety use hand gloves. Take a plastic tub only not metallic otherwise the etching solution makes reaction with metal which can be dangerous for you.

Step9: Add 4 to 6 spoon of Ferric Chloride powder in the water. The ratio of water and FeCl3 is not specific. If water is more then we have to add more FeCl3 and if water is low then low amount of FeCl3  required. One thing is remember that the water is enough for the PCB to dip completely in it. The amount of FeCl3  affect the reaction time of etching; if it is more then etching is done in less time and vice-versa. After mixing water and FeCl3 dip the PCB inside the tub and vibrate tub continuously (if u want fast etching) or after every min.

                                          

Step10: When all the copper (exposed) area vanishes then put the PCB out from the tub.Etching is done.Wash this PCB using scrubber.

Step11: Now our PCB is ready to drill. For drilling you can use small hand drill. Drill the holes.

Step12.Now the final step is to paste the components and soldered them.The final product is just looks like this.


                                                                                                                                 ~ pratyush