Resized to 83% of original (view original)
Artist's commentary
Ira Drew a Circuit Diagram
I was really curious about what you were drawing... And it turned out to be just a schematic for a linear power supply (you could've drawn a switching power supply, too). Maybe try drawing something at least a little more "girly"? I'm starting to think you're growing up to be a tomboy... and some kind of circuit design engineer...
- Oh, come on, look! Hair clips! And isn't my skirt obvious enough?
- Those are the only signs that you're not a boy. :-)
- Come on, take the picture already! I need something to post in my public page. Everyone's waiting for me to start etching the board and soldering.
- You could just order one...
- This is a prototype! A scrap of copper-clad board, a printer, an iron, and ferric chloride are enough.
- And the components...
- Of course I'll order those! My donation money will cover it.
Turns on the phone camera.
- Now look off to the side. Tilt your head a little. Pretend you're waiting for your flight at the airport.
- Like this?
- Tilt your head just a little more...
- Like this?
- Yep. Taking the picture!
- Give me the phone! I need to upload it to my page... Thanks!
An hour later, Ira starts her livestream.
Hey everyone! Today you'll learn about the Toner Transfer Method (Laser-Iron Transfer, or LUT)! I'll show you how to transfer PCB traces printed on paper onto copper-clad board using heat. The toner transferred from the paper protects those areas of the copper during the chemical etching process.
Materials we'll need:
1. Copper-clad board (PCB blank)
2. A laser printer (an inkjet won't work, you need toner!) and glossy paper
3. A regular household iron
4. Ferric chloride for etching the PCB
5. Fine sandpaper and acetone
6. A plastic or glass container for the etching solution
Preparation
I designed the PCB on my computer. Now I need to print it on glossy paper using a laser printer. Make sure to disable toner-saving mode in the printer settings. And don't forget, the image has to be mirrored!
Next, cut the PCB blank to the required size. Sand the copper surface until it's clean, then degrease it with acetone. After that, don't touch the copper with your fingers anymore!
Transferring the Image
Place the PCB with the copper side facing up. Carefully position the printed design on top with the toner facing the copper (the printed side of the paper goes against the board).
Heat the iron to 170°C (340°F). Press the paper firmly with the iron and iron it for about 3 minutes. During this time, the toner melts and bonds to the copper.
Removing the Paper
Now we need to remove the paper from the PCB.
Soak the entire board in warm water for about 15 minutes. The paper will soften and can be peeled away easily. Once it's removed, you'll be left with a sharp black pattern of toner traces. If any traces were damaged, you can touch them up with a permanent marker.
Etching
Now it's time to etch!
Prepare the etching solution by mixing ferric chloride with warm water in a 1:3 ratio.
Place the PCB into the solution. The exposed copper will dissolve, leaving only the copper protected by the toner. When the etching is complete, remove the board and clean the toner off with acetone.
Finishing
Finally, you can tin the copper traces and prepare the board for soldering the electronic components!
Leave a comment