Make your own PCB (Printed circuit board)

So far, many people are confused about where to make the PCB. Because, We are don’t  know how and not confidence about the result. PCB manufacturing as like manual or screen printing system which they said a bit complicated and need some equipment and others. But, I want to share of how to make PCB as simple as like they thinking. The way is using glossy paper, as we call is photo paper. Because, We just need a glossy side of the paper. It’s for the ink are patched on the paper can be moved to the PCB. Some people said use gasoline, but I never tried that method, next time maybe I share another ways.

The equipment needed are not much. Photo paper (the cheap one), flat iron, aseton liquid, PCB of course. This method is used for simple circuit. When it’s complicated, actually we can make it, but we have to high accurate in ironing method.

Equipment needed:

- 1 pcs of flatiron

- 1 sheet PCB lember PCB which is cut as like the circuit shape.

- 1 bottle aseton liquid (you can get it in pharmacy).

- 1 sheet glossy/photo paper.

- 1 pcs PCB design layout.

- 1 pack fericlorite liquid (FeCl3) (etching liquid)



Figure 1. Layout example

First step:

Circuit design layout is very important at this step. You can use OrCad, PCB designer or another software as we know. For me, I use PADS software, easy to use this software. But the result is same. Define shape of PCB layout and match it with the PCB shape. Match of shape of course.

 



Figure 2. Four layout on one sheet



Second step:

Print the PCB layout on to typical sheet paper, Do not forget, use mirror condition at the layout printout, because it’s going to attach as mirror condition on the PCB sheet. If possible, printout some sheet and attach on the one sheet A4 size paper. It’s for reduce cost when a copy print. Example: attach 4 PCB layout in one sheet, it mean we are reduce of three sheet copy print. And we have backup layout when the process is fail. Need to remember, ask to the copier to use laser copy print and photo paper, it’s better if the copier is have the photo paper. So, you don’t have to be brought the paper or you can print out your self with laser printer. But the point is you have to be using photo paper.

Figure 3. Ironing Sumilation

Third step:

If it’s copied, the next step is more important. Dabs the PCB by water, cooper side only, make it medium humidity. After that, attach the PCB layout paper on the PCB cooper, layout image is on the cooper. Make the PCB and paper is not slide. When it’s attached, put it on the floor or carpet., ironing the PCB with the medium heat, about ¾ of heat level. Do it until the ink can see on the other side. Don’t to push when the ironing, it cause the pattern is going wide. Just relax. After finish it, don’t release the paper directly. Let the PCB’s into low temperature. Dip the PCB into the water, let it dip in a few minutes.

Fourth step:

Fade the paper out from the PCB, so, the paper is release easy and it will leave the ink on the cooper. Don’t scratch it hardly, can make the ink lifted. Just relax and don’t be hurry. Fade it until all apart. Clean the PCB from the leaved paper. The PCB is ready to the etching step.

Five step:

Prepare fericlorite liquid by adding warm water. Clean PCB layout is soaked in the liquid for fading out the unnecessary cooper. Shake the liquid until the cooper are fade. And will leave the pattern are coated by the ink. Be sure for etching is done and clean it by water. Clean the ink layer with aseton liquid by tissue or cotton. And the circuit will appears clearly.

Six step:

After the pattern are clear, you can start to drill for component hole and PCB are ready to use.

Additional step:

If you are going to add component layout, you can do as above. But not need fericlorite and aseton. Just ironing the component layout on to the other side without cooper. The function is leaving the ink on the PCB for component placement.

Making your own Training I/O module (LED, push button, and DIP switch)

On the previous discussion, We are try to make ourself mini downloader using computer parallel interface. This time we are try to make I/O module (Input/Output) for the previous downloader.

Figure 1. Module and Micro

Here is the illustrate.

It's simple ways, caused by very easy to get the component. I/O is going to make is 2 byte input and 2 byte output. Input are using 8 pcs push button, 8 pcs DIP switch, but the output are use 16 pcs LED. It's up to you about the LED colour, the important think is for display active signal from micro. 

Input and output is active low, which is, when the logic is low or zero, LED is going to glow. Confuse about that? don't be confused. The point is when the LED receiving signal zero volt, the LED is going to shine, so, the other LED pin is connected to positif voltage. and so as the input. Input signal to the micro are have to be grounded for giving the active signal.



Figure 2. LED and Switch module

Now, we try to make it. Component needed:

- 8 pcs LED Red 2.5mm

- 8 pcs LED Green 2.5mm

- 8 pcs push button

- 2 pcs DIP switch @4 switches

- 16 pcs resistor 300ohm

- 1 pcs terminal 40 pin

- 3 pcs resistor array 9 pin, 10Kohm

- 1 pcs housing 2 pin

This circuit are tried by me and connected to downloader in previous discussion. the result, it's not bad for programing LED and switches with microcontroller.



Figure 3. Switching circuit



Figure 4. Output circuit



Switching circuit:
On the figure 3, Switch are grounded for active low by adding resistor 10k ohm to the Vcc. The function is giving logic 1 or 5 volt to the micro when the button is not pushed. And it going to supply logic 0 or 0 volt when the button is pushed. Out line on figure 3 is direct to any port on micro. Build this circuit as many 8 pcs with using resistor 9 pin 10Kohm for siple circuit.

Output circuit:

On the figure 4, using LED can be applied directly from the IC, other ways are using pull up circuit on the IC output. For safety and avoid to unload the IC, We are going to use resistor as pull up on IC output. Using pull up is only on port 0 AT89S51, caused by port 0 iskarena keluaran port 0 is threshold. so have to be sure with pull up circuit, another port are unecessary pull up circuit, because it was include in the IC. Input of this circuit is connected to IC and the output is connected to LED, it's have to be resisted with 300 ohm for decreasing current to the LED. Maximum LED current is only 20mA. If it's over, the LED is going to broken.

 

Make the LED circuit as many 16 pcs with 1 pcs resistor array 9 pin as pull up. Pin anode LED is connect to Vcc. and pin LED cathode is connected to IC with series resistor 300 ohm.

Using housing 2 pin to connecting module and micro with Vcc 5 volt. VCC 5 volt is already connected in terminal 40 pin, so you don't need more cable. For the PCb, you can make your own PCB.

How to make a PCB? we are going to discuss it at next session. Cause of the simple ways.

Are we want to learn? it's on your self. Important think is " WILL". Thanks.