Do You Know Any Electronics Hobbyists?

Around 30 or 40 years ago, just about everyone knew somebody who loved electronics and was always working on their own electronic devices. This ranges from a cousin who repaired televisions, to dad building Heathkits, to an uncle who fixed radios, everyone knew someone whose hobby was electronics. There were bunches of tools, tubes, components and various other electronics laying around. There are issues of old electronics magazines all over the place. The smell of melted solder hung in the air in their garage or basement workshops. You could likely find a few PCB prototypes around each corner.

What about today?

Do you know anyone who fits that description? Probably not. The long time home for DIY electronics, Radio Shack, has even been emptying their inventories of the DIY stuff. So where did they go? How does a whole group like that just go away?

Really, they did not disappear. The old school guys who purchased all of the electronics kits are now purchasing robot kits. Those girls who used to operate the ham radios are now computer hackers. A young boy who once built RC boats and airplanes is today experimenting with embedded controllers and programming languages. Let's not forget about the old school hobbyists that are still plugging away. They're still using the perfboards, and electronic components, and purchased kits to design their homemade electronics. Don't forget about the hobbyists who use CAD software for their custom PCB designs and their goal of becoming a home made millionaire. Learn about using CAD software.

Progress or Perish

Why evolve? It's simple - to progress From the moment the integrated circuit was invented in the early 1970s, the hobby was destined to change. Circuit size was shrinking but the circuits were actually becoming more sophisticated. Weekend hobbyists couldn't keep up any longer. (Learn about making a protoytpe PCB)The inexpensive mass production also had a role. As integrated circuits were being produced on a mass scale, their prices plummeted. In most cases it was, and still is, cheaper to buy the ready-made products than the parts to build or fix one yourself. Can you remember the last time you took something to be repaired instead of buying a new one?

Advancements in computer technology and robotics have also lent a hand in depleting the amount of hobbyists. Still, hobbyists today are still doing many of the same things they would have done 20 or 30 years ago. The hobbyists still build, rebuild, and experiment with all types of electronics. They have just upgraded their tool boxes with embedded controllers, ICs, and wireless controls. Learn more about PCB prototype creation.

As technology evolves, so will the hobbies. When the electronics realm changes, so does the electronics hobbyist.

DIY PCB

Developing a PCB in your own home may not be as complicated as some tend to believe. All of the equipment necessary is available at a modest cost, and in some cases free. Let's a take a look at the steps in creating your own printed circuit boards.

Following the Dry Transfer Method to Create PCBs

Most of the supplies necessary to create your own PCBs are available at grocery stores, department stores, electronics and hobby stores, and, of course, the Internet.

Required Materials

- CAD software for PCB design

- A PCB laminate board coated in copper

- Photographic paper (Glossy)

- Laser printer

- Clothing iron

- Etching solutions (for best results use Ferric Chloride)

- Abrasive scrubbing pads (kitchen or bathroom)

- Paint Thinner or Acetone

- Exacto knife or razor blade

- Paper tape

- Double-sided tape

Steps

1. Find a free, or low cost CAD software program to create to your PCB layout.

2. Cut the PCB laminate roughly to size by scoring with an Exacto knife and bending along the groove to break. Exact trimming can be done after the board is finished.

3. Now you must take the copper side of the laminate and using your scrubbing pad, remove oil or dirt that could hinder the etching and transfer process. If you so choose, you can use a minimal amount of mildly abrasive cleaner. Dry off the board

4. Print your PCB design layout onto the glossy side of the photographic paper on your laser printer. Use your printer highest quality settings to ensure the best possible image.

5. Cut out the design so it fits the laminate board. Attach the side of the paper containing the image to the copper surface of the board by using the paper tape.

6. Take your clothes iron and turn it to the hottest setting available and turn off the steam. Using the double sided tape, you will want to secure the board to solid, heat resistant surface. Using the iron, apply heat and pressure evenly around the board for a period of sixty to ninety seconds. Avoid leaving the iron in one place too long or it will burn the paper. Wait for your board to cool down.

7. When the board is cool enough to touch, immerse it in room temperature water for about a minute. When paper softens, gently rub off the paper. You will be left with reversed image of your circuit board.

8. You will want to remove any left over paper by gently scrubbing the copper with the kitchen/bathroom scrubber.

9. Place the board on-edge into the etching solution so that the entire board is covered. Ferric chloride is an extremely corrosive solution and will stain anything it touches so please use pliers or tongs to avoid any contact with clothing or skin.

10. Let your board rest in the solution for around 10 minutes and continue to stir it regularly.

11. At 10 minutes check the board. If the board needs to be in the solution longer, leave it in for up to 5 more minutes. Continue stirring the solution and checking the progress.

12. After the board is etched, completely rinse it off with water.

13. By using a couple drops of acetone you can remove the residual toner.

14. Trim the board, sand the edges with high-grit sandpaper and it is ready for drilling and assembly.