Hello all,
I’d like to understand the easiest ways to make the PCBs for Mr Carlson’s circuits. For example, I’m interested in making the capacitor leakage tester. I’ve never made a PCB at home and not entirely sure I’d want to take that on but would like to understand the process better. Also, if I want to use an inexpensive online PCB maker, what’s the easiest way to do that starting with a Mr Carlson circuit PDF? And here’s a dumb question, but does Mr Carlson sell PCBs (or kits) for his projects?
Hy and welcome to MCLs forum. He has already presented his method of making single sided as well as double sided PCBs the easy way . I cannot remember now what video numbers but there are quite a few of them on Patreon as awell as on his YouTube Chanel. You just have to flick thru them to find them. And by the way, once you setup the needed RIG you’ll continue to use it forever from there on. Just need to pay close attention because any little detail is crucial. The best way to not miss any details is keep pausing the video while you take written (bullet points) and that way you’ll know precissely what and how to do it. Good Luck.
Now, regarding the PCBs for sell the answer is 100%. no. MCL never ever sold any PCBs for any of his projects regardless. He want us to learn how to make our own PCBs and that what the vast majority of us are and were doing. You just have to keep up the pace with us all.
Thank you! And Mr Carlson explained to me that the designs may not be shared outside of the site nor uploaded to a PCB maker and obviously I won’t do any of those things. I will go look for the videos and see if I think I’m capable of successfully implementing the processes.
I made my first successful PCB using Dr Carlson’s videos. I tried some shortcuts like using an clothes iron instead of a laminator. I didn’t get reliable results with a clothes iron. I tried several types of paper and needed to do a few paper types before I got something that worked. I had to buy the right equipment. This is what I’m using.
- Lexmark B2236 laser printer
- Tamerica SM-330 Laminator
- HP Enhanced Business Paper
After you have a successful etched PCB you aren’t done. Other things that Mr Carlson didn’t cover:
- Had to buy some small drill bits that fit in my Dremel tool to mount thru hole components
- I use a razor box cutter and metal straight edge to cut the board to size. (Tin snips didn’t work for me)
I recommend using surface mount components not smaller than 0805. Surface mount components are very cheap, are very small, and don’t need drilling.
@frogman Thank you…that’s fantastic information.
Probably a little more than I want to take on right now. I wonder if it’s reasonable to make some of these things without a PCB, such as on a little breadboard.
@rossindenver I’ve heard of people reporting that they have successfully built the cap leakage tester not as breadboard style but rather on perforated boards.
@frogman The setup that I’ve had for some years now is HP LaserJet 1102W (using the original HP Cartridge ONLY !), an old and cheap laminator that I’ve managed to modify for higher temperatures *195 to 210 Degrees Celsius. A little DIY miniature circular saw (to precisely cut my boards with, A little mini press drill that is made by a German company called PROXXON to do the drilling with (very similar to those Dremel press drills), and a bath of Ferric Chloride that sits on a DIY magnetic table with a stirrer so the Etchant is continuously stired for faster etching result. As for paper, I use any kind of Glossy paper even magazine paper (sometimes) I’m not too fast about it. That’s it.
@frogman Does the laminator get hot enough? What is it’s maximum temperature? Seems most of the laminators fall short of the required temperature.
I don’t have a temperature number but I use it at the hottest setting and works OK. I pass the board through the laminator about ten times. I’ve successfully made about 10 boards and prefer surface mount components because they are small and don’t need drilling. 0805 surface mount components and 50mil pin spacing is as small as I go
@ovi4 Got a chuckle out of your reply – when I saw PROXXON :)) I lived in Germany for about 10 years. When I moved over there from the US, I couldn’t bring much at all. So, within a month of getting settled in, I bought both the PROXXON ‘dremel’ and their mini press you mention. I loved that little setup so much that when we moved back to the states, I brought both with me. (And needed it the other day, but dang if I can find it 🙁 )
fun, international stuff :))
ciao
– H