How to make PCB (Printed Circuit Board) at Home [step by step]

Today I will show how to make PCB at home. PCB means Printed Circuit Board. Would you like to know more about PCB? Please follow the link  Wikipedia.

We will need     1.Ferric Chloride  
                         2. Copper Board  
                         3. Glossy Paper .
                         4. Iron 
                         5. Drill Bit [Drill Bit 0.8mm]
                         6. Paint Thinner
                         7. Hand Gloves

Now follow me with my instructions.

Step 1:  

Open the PCB diagram with Foxit reader or Adobe reader. It doesn't matter what you are using, just make sure that you are printing it with 100% (Actual) size.

 

 Now the picture will be looked like this :

 

It is recommended, the printer should be Laser printer. If you don't have Laser printer don't worry, I have a solution. First print out the circuit diagram on a normal paper in 100% size. Now make a photo copy of the diagram with glossy paper  by photostat machine. Because both Laser printer and Photostat machine have same type of ink. 

Note : We are getting the circuit diagram on a glossy paper.

After printing the circuit will  look like that :

Keep it for future and look at step 2.

Step 2:

Buy a copper board and cut it with required dimension. If you are in Bangladesh , you can visit http://toolsbd.com to collect necessary parts. A little rubbing is required to make clean the copper board . Look at the picture :

 

Now using  Masking Tape, add  PCB Diagram with  Copper Board carefully . 

 

This picture of masking is collected from techtunes.com.bd .Some how i missed this step to capture

 We need to provide heat on this and we should use an Iron. Be careful, you don't need to provide very high temperature . At first keep it on copper board so that heat can spread. After 2or3 min, start ironing  smoothly. Keep it in mind that rough ironing will damage the copper board. 

 

 

After heating for 15or 20 mins. Now pour water on it carefully and keep it underwater at least 20 mins.  Look the picture here.

 

wait for 20 mins

Now  remove the paper carefully and carefully wash it by water. It will look like this 

 

Step 3:

Bring  a pot with water and provide some Ferric Chloride on that . Be careful you should provide
Ferric Chloride on water . Don't watering on Ferric Chloride . Now sink the copper board and keep moving the water pot slowly for 20 min . You will see that copper will be being vanished . 

After completing this step  wash the board with soap and use paint thinner to clear and remove ink from the board . 

 

Now, we need to drill the board. If you have drill machine, you can use it. If  you don't have a drill machine, don't worry. I have a solution for you.

 

You can follow my method using drill bit. I didn't buy any drill machine !!!

Thank You !