One of the most discouraging things about making a hardware project (apart from obtaining all of the components) is building the printed circuit board - PCB. It is sometimes possible to use strip board or some other pre-fabricated board but more often than not the circuit complexity and performance requires a proper PCB to be made. The good news is that due to improvements in printing and processing technologies it is now relatively easy to make inexpensive high quality PCB's at home. WARNING: Making PCB's requires the use of Ferric Chloride (FeCI3) which is corrosive so avoid skin and eye contact. Remember safety first use glasses, gloves and protective overalls. Ferric Chloride is also very good at distorting cloths weeks after you think you have washed it off. If you do get any on your skin then wash it off immediately with lots of water and soap.
The Shopping List
This is the minimum things you will need:
1. Access to a PC with a Laser printer eg: HP Laser Jet
2. Cloths iron
3. Kettle
4. Water bucket
5. A one litre glash jar with plastic screw top (biscuit jar)
6. PCB hand drill with 0.8mm and 1mm drill bits - FR84F, QY64U
7. Copper-Clad fiberglass board - WF40T
8. Press-n-Peel PCB transfer system - AB15R
9. Ferric Chloride Copper etching fluid 250ml - WF10L
10. Two plastic etching trays (ideally different sizes) - CH38R
11. PCB cleaning rubber - HX04E
12. PCB solvent cleaner - LL59P
13. Safety glasses, latex gloves, old clothes/overalls - KE83E, YJ84C
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