How to make a PCB at home?

[Nimer]

hi
anybody who knows how to make a pcb at home , whats the best software to do the layout (simple one not orcad)
regards

 

[ee_expert2000]

Re: home making pcb

protel is quite simple.
for better softwares check more products from cadence.
do you mean to make the PCB board or only design the Schematic so that a company will make the pcb for fabrication?

 

[jhallows]

Re: home making pcb

I think most hobbyist use Cadsoft Eagle. It's free download and would get you started in PCB making. I have used it in the past and it's quite good.

Some links to help you out:
**broken link removed**
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/

 

[mayu_wakui]

Re: home making pcb

almost everything u want to know about pcb's

https://www.smps.us/pcb-design.html

 

[abasir]

Re: home making pcb

hi
anybody who knows how to make a pcb at home , whats the best software to do the layout (simple one not orcad)
regards

Here my pictorial guide to doing it at home. Toner transfer method.
**broken link removed**

 

[messi1]

Re: home making pcb

I would also suggest Eagle from cadsoft. I also started with eagle and you can even use it for complex boards.

Cheers J

 

[john blue]

Re: home making pcb

Eagle seems to be good for beginner but if you really need simulations: signal integrity, thermal and etc, then some software like Altium would be better. Well, the more functions a tool has, the more complex it is to use

 

[yafch1]

Re: home making pcb

Well, i say you go with eagle.It is simple and easy to use.Its trial version is freely available with some limitation for board size, board size is not a problem for newbie.Its help file is a good tutorial to start learning it. I started using it a year ago and know i have a professional version bought for myself.
And the complex cad softwares are for professionals or highly experienced people where they need to do a lot of test and trial for very complex circuits. And about the simulations in those cad softwares, It can be far from the reality but may be good to do so before paying the costs for prototypes to check their working abilities.

 

[malik_zohaib]

Re: home making pcb

yah eagle is best for pcb designing. check it out how to make pcb using toner transfer method at
Electronics EveryWhere: PCB
and eagle tutorial at
Electronics EveryWhere: Software Tutorials

 

[john blue]

Re: home making pcb

You can also use UV method. It saves your time and messiness..

 

[yafch1]

Re: home making pcb

Uv method has its own advantages,very reliable method,very neat results. But for beginner paper toner transfer can be easy and low cost, its good for low count tracks. But may not be good for very fine pcb tracks. As for myself with my experience i can do the finest tracks(eagle generated pcb,s) easily with toner transfer method.

If some one want to know i can share my experience with paper and toner transfer method. Further paper and toner transfer method is not a good idea for double sided pcb for me.