PCBs have all the time been made by means of automated processes, as a result of that’s sort of all the level. However there isn’t any motive that they have to be carried out that approach. In reality, ALTco demonstrated in a latest video that you could create your individual bespoke, artisanal, hand-drawn PCBs.
First, let’s get the apparent out of the way in which: this isn’t tremendous sensible. It’s laborious to attract exact part footprints by hand. Additionally it is troublesome to manage the properties of the traces, which might be vital in some circumstances. Lastly, it takes extra time — particularly if you happen to’re making a couple of PCB. These are all good the reason why hand-drawn PCBs aren’t actually a factor.
However this does have one enormous benefit: hand-drawn PCBs look actually cool. The curvy traces have an virtually natural high quality that’s antithetical to the conventional vibe of a PCB. Additionally, in principle, this may very well be sooner for quite simple, one-off designs.
It really works in precisely the identical approach as conventional PCB etching, which is how makers have created PCBs at house for many years. However as an alternative of utilizing a printed masks transferred onto a copper clean, you draw the masks instantly on to the clean utilizing a marker.
ALTco experimented with a number of completely different methods and provides. In the end, he received the most effective outcomes with ferric chloride etchant and Pentel N850 everlasting markers (with bullet ideas).
That labored rather well, etching away nearly all of the copper on the clean and leaving simply the traces behind. And people traces are surprisingly clear. However simply to be protected, ALTco additionally tinned them with solder. The PCB then went into a bit of solder fume filter fan.
So, if you happen to’ve ever wished to offer your PCBs a bit of further handmade aptitude, this looks like a good way to attain stable outcomes.