Vacuum chuck for PCB milling and engraving.

[tonyfoale]

I have added a second video on this subject. It looks in general at PCB making by both etching and milling options. I demonstrate methods which I have used successfully and there is a review of some freeware that assists the process of going from an idea to a PCB.

You can see the video here :-

Rick recently posted a toner transfer method which might be of use http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/l...aminator-71497 if you go down the etching route.

Here is a link to an interesting article on photo production of PCBs photo etching PCBs

There are a ton of videos on the net showing in great detail the process of making PCBs, some articles/videos are very good but as with everything on the net some are quite bad.

A bit of history, I started an interest in electronics almost 70 years ago when I was 8 and was introduced to a crystal set. It was magic. My father was an instructor of electrical engineering in the Royal Navy during WW2 but after 2 weeks of my constant questions he disappointed me by running out of answers and I had to turn to the library for more info. It was an engrossing hobby for me until I was 16 when I discovered the joys of racing motorcycles, then my interest turned more toward mechanical stuff. Although I never really kept up with electronic trends I always retained enough knowledge to make things like ignition systems and tachos as required. Nowadays things have got a whole lot easier for those who need some electronic content in their work or hobby pursuits. Cheap microcontrollers and microprocessors like the Arduino and Pi have transformed that world. No longer is detailed electronic knowledge needed to build useful devices using hidden electron flow. In many cases you only need connect some input devices such as a temperature or position sensor to an Arduino and a PC or LCD display as an output to get a useful tool without adding other components. All that controlled by software. There has been shift from dedicated electronic circuits to general purpose devices which become dedicated to a specific task through software commands. I think that most people versed in the mechanical arts find learning software programming infinitely preferable to learning the intricacies of traditional electronic circuit design.
Apart from the mentioned projects like ignition system and tachos etc. some my recent project include things like, pressure and flow measurement for a port flow bench, shock dyno, strobe synchronisation for slo-mo videos of valve float, reading from linear and rotary encoders, motor speed control, controller for a pellet home heating system and a bunch of other stuff.