top of page
Search
  • Writer's pictureKevin Mercer

Prototyping PCB's


This is a test to determine whether or not a laser cutter would be an effective tool for my students' custom circuitry project. For a first attempt, the results are pretty satisfactory. I will soon solder in some leds and pin headers, then hook everything up to an Arduino.


I first applied two coats of spray paint to the copper side of a plain, single-sided PCB. Second, I laser engraved a pattern in negative, to reveal copper to be etched. Third, the PCB was submerged and gently agitated in ferric chloride for approximately ten minutes. After rinsing with water, I cleaned the remaining spray paint with a fairly mild nail polish remover.


bottom of page