Using Press-n-peel to make PCBs for effects

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timhulio
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Using Press-n-peel to make PCBs for effects

Post by timhulio »

Chatting to Mike about this last week, so figured I'd post some pics of the process. Forgive me if this method is old news to anyone...

I've used DIY layout creator to design the PCB layout. This one is based on a point-to-point layout for Harmonic Percolators. I moved some of the traces around to reflect the size of components and figured out how to PCB-mount the pots and switch. This is printed out, then photocopied onto Press-n-Peel Blue.

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Degrease and remove any sharp edges from the copper boards. Iron the press-n-peel onto the boards through a piece of plain paper. I count to a minute, moving the iron constantly and applying pressure. Take the hot board with p-n-p still attached and cool it under a tap. Once cold, peel the press-n-peel off. Check for any broken traces. I use an OHP marker to fix stuff.

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Etching in ferric chloride takes a while. I'd guess 10-20 mins. You can see it working so there's no real danger of the acid eating away everything in an instant. I've made a double-boiler thing using the frying pan. This is to GENTLY warm the etchant, as it supposedly works at 50 degrees C. Don't evaporate/boil either the water or the etchant bath as this shit is extremely dangerous. Have your extractor fan on and window open if you're stupid enough to do this in your kitchen.

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Drill some holes. Component leads are 0.7mm. PCB-mount pots and switch need 1mm holes. These are Green Muff boards.

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When ready to populate the board, clean of the press-n-peel residue using fine wet-n-dry (600 grit) and washing-up liquid. These Big Muff boards fit in the MXR-sized box. Score!

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Populated, off-board wiring done.

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Okay...

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Finished

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Last edited by timhulio on Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Reece
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Post by Reece »

wow that looks really neat, professional even.

lovely job.
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Empires
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Post by Empires »

Wow.

I'm still trying to get my head round vero.

Very nice job, sir. All round.
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Sloan
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Post by Sloan »

FUCKING RAD.
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Post by ultratwin »

Excellence.
benecol

Post by benecol »

These are great Tim - I keep having to resist buying one. I see a birthday present to self in my (admittedly, fairly distant) future.
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timhulio
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Post by timhulio »

Cheers guys!

Once you get a kinda production-line going boards become quite cheap to make this way. The Maplins etch kit is like £11, and press-n-peel is a fiver for a few sheets. Mini-drill about £15.
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euan
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Post by euan »

Yeah PnP is cool. My father used to have access to a lightbox for doing photoresistive marking of the boards. That stuff was pretty nice
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Post by gaybear »

this is a great informative thread. A+++
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Will
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Post by Will »

Lush, dude - those look better than a lot of Dunlop PCBs I've seen
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Post by dots »

makes it look easy enough that i could do it, though i know i never could. way cool!
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Post by paul_ »

Beautiful post.
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Mike
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Post by Mike »

It looks very swish, Tim. I'm not sure I would be able to execute all that without screwing up, as I'm a cackhanded fool, but it looks very pro.