markmick said:The one show-stopper I've had to deal with for many years as a hobbyist is the creation of PCBs. I'm not into buying all the etching material & associated supplies, but getting a vendor to create a single PCB gets pricey after a while. Is there an inexpensive solution to this? Thanks.
Mark
newelltech said:I can't believe anyone makes their own boards anymore. There are many companies that offer free schematic capture and PCB layout tools and low cost boards.
For about $50 US you can get 3 small miniboards (3" x 4" approx) delivered in about 3-5 days. And the quality is far superior to anything you can make yourself.
If you're doing it yourself, just to get started, you need to buy containers, tongs, PCB size drills, gloves, saws, etc. If you want to do it right you need a bubbler and heater which can be over $100.
For each board you etch, you have to buy the acid which is about $10-15 if you can find a distributor who will sell a small quantity. And if you are an ethical person, you will have to find a proper place to dispose of your used etchant which will cost a fee.
And then there's the mess. No matter how careful you are you will spill some etchant on yourself, your clothes or your table.
Please tell me why you would want to do this. If you think it's cheaper, I would disagree.
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