printed circuit boards

MAKING PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
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There are two main ways to make PCB's.
The first is to take some copper laminate sheet.
Clean it with metal polish or an abrasive eraser.
Layout the tracks on the copper side with etch resistant ink using pens, or etch resistant tapes and pads.
Etch, conforming with any safety aspects.
Lightly centre punch where component leads are to be fitted.
Drill, avoiding burrs, using a 1mm drill for most components.
Remove ink or tapes.
Clean
Fit components.
Spray copper side with varnish to avoid tarnishing of the copper.

The second method is to use photo sensitive laminate.
Tapes or inks can be used as shown previously.
Before etching, the board is exposed to ultra violet light and developed, similarly to the photographic process.
The other option is to make a transparency of the layout by hand or using software.
The transparency is placed over the photosensitive side of the PCB.
The board is then exposed to the ultra violet light, developed and etched.
Be sure to place the transparency the correct way up on the PCB.
Sprays are available to make ordinary laminate photosensitive.
When using chemicals obey the manufacturers instructions at all times.