Electronic hobbyists make their own printed circuit boards at home for building anything from ham radios to robots. They can build their dream rig from the ground up by making printed circuit board designs right on their computer. A printed circuit board consists of a layer of insulating material with a thin coating of copper on one side where the circuit design is etched into the copper. After the circuit board is made, they can add their own electronic components.
Instructions
1 Design your own circuit, or find one in an electronics magazine or on the Internet. There are numerous designs available for personal use. Then draw the circuit design in a CAD program (Computer Assisted Drawing) or in any standard drawing program, such as Paint in Windows. Circuit designs are usually made up of a series of precise connection lines, along with small circles where electronic components are attached to the board. See the illustration above for an example.
2 Check the layout carefully after drawing it, and make any necessary adjustments to the schematic. Before sending the image to the laser printer, set the print parameters to "mirror image" or "flip horizontal." A reversed image is necessary so the schematic orientation will be correct when transferring it to the circuit board. Consult the laser printer owner's manual for more detail on reversing the print image.
3 Print the design on glossy photo paper. Clean the copper surface of the circuit board with fine steel wool so it is free from dust and fingerprints. Then tape the photo paper to the copper with the glossy side face down. Heat up the clothes iron to its hottest setting. Use an ironing board or cover any hard, flat surface with a folded bath towel for the ironing process. Transfer the design to the copper surface by pressing the iron against the circuit board with a lot of pressure but minimal movement. Heat and pressure are required for a better transfer so spots are not missed. Press the iron for approximately 4 to 6 minutes. Then put the circuit board into warm soapy water for twenty minutes and allow the paper to dissolve.
4 Remove any leftover paper from the circuit board and rinse under cold tap water. Touch up any circuit lines that failed to transfer properly with a fine-tip etch-resistant pen. Etch the board by dropping it gently into a container of ferric chloride etching solution, following the solution's user instructions for proper handling directions and for length of soaking time.
5 Remove the circuit board from the etching fluid using rubber gloves and safety tongs. Do not touch the etching solution, and avoid getting it on clothes. Rinse the board under cold tap water and dry the board, then drill 1-mm holes into the board where the electronic component leads are to be attached.
