Consumable Supplies
Two companies, Injectorall and GC Electronics, make most of the
chemicals and supplies you'll need to make printed circuit boards
using this process. Both will sell directly in small quantities,
but often times it's more convienent to buy from a distributor.
Outside the United States, I have no idea what your options are.
Injectorall - Board Material, Chemicals, Etc.
GC Electronics - Board Material, Chemicals, General Electronics.
Mouser Electronics - Distributor (GC Electronics), Ammonium Persulphate
Etchant.
Consumables
- Semi Transparent Paper
- Photocopier grade transparancy paper can be used in a laser
printer, but the toner doesn't adhere to the plastic surface
very well. A velum paper accepts the toner as well as ordinary
paper but requires a approx double the exposure time.
- Velum Paper info
- Laser Printer Transparancy info
- Copper Clad Board Material with Photoresist
- Using these boards is much easier than using photoresist to
coat bare boards, but they cost more than bare board and the
photoresist. Injectorall and GC Electronics offer these boards.
Based on recent experience, I would recommend Injectorall over GC.
- Copper Clad Board Material (bare)
- Often times bare copper clad board material can be found
at surplus shops, which it will be much cheaper. It can also
be purchased from Injectorall, GC, and a variety of other sources.
- Photoresist
- GC Electronics makes a spray-on protoresist. Until about 1991
this chemical gave me very good results, but I suspect GC Electronics
made some change and it stopeed working well. It can be ordered
through Mouser Electronics as well as directly from GC.
- Developer Solution
-
- Etching Solution (acid)
- Ferric Chloride is widely available and even Radio Shack
carries it in some stores. Do not use
ferric chloride. Mouser (used to) offer Ammonium Persulphate,
but apparantly they have not discontinued it.
Injectorall offers Sodium Persulphate which come as crystals
which you add with water.
- Drill Bits
-
- Tin Plating Solution
- For many years GC Electronics offered a two part liquid and
powder product which would tin-plate boards. They have discontinued
this product. Injectorall feels this chemical is dangerous and
they don't want to sell it. --add recipe for tin plating solution.
Making Simple Low-Volume Printed Circuit Boards, Paul Stoffregen
http://www.pjrc.com/tech/pc-boards/consumables.html
Last updated: November 28, 2003
Status: just starting these pc board pages
Suggestions, comments, questions??
<paul@pjrc.com>
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Consumables