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DIY Electronics
The Definitive Guide to Homemade Printed Circuit Boards
The UV Method
Nowadays, it’s possible to order your Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and its components from giant (and usually Chinese) PCB manufacturers, even as an amateur electronics enthusiast, and for a meager price. So what is the need for homemade printed circuit boards? Should they have a place in your electronics home lab? Why make your own PCBs?
There are many reasons to consider fabricating PCBs at home, especially for small batches and prototypes. For one, homemade PCB fabrication allows for on-demand production. When you make your own PCBs, you can go from idea to final product without waiting for delivery from a manufacturer located miles away, without paying shipping fees or having your PCBs go through customs. I myself, after a few years of experience, can now make a complete dual-sided PCB in one afternoon to one day, depending on the PCB complexity. This, when compared to weeks (usually two weeks, depending on where you live and how much you are willing to pay) when ordering PCBs from typical PCB manufacturers.
Part 1 — The Why
The Benefits of Homemade PCBs
- Cost Efficiency: Making PCBs at home can be cheaper! Materials like ferric chloride and…
