Printed Circuit Boards.
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:28 am
I am just about to launch micro-controller programming into schools for children as young as 8 years old. In our present economic chaos, schools have very little money to spend per student, on new projects. The above project requires a PCB per child plus an extensive 'library' of boards for the 50 lessons or modules. To make this affordable, it may be necessary to consider making the PCB's ourselves. Originally I had thought it possible to print the layouts onto the copper clad board using UV cured inks, but that would require an expensive flat bed printer and special print head, for an ink jet.
A possible alternative is to screen print the pads and tracks direct onto the copper clad board and then etch in ferric acid. I have watched all the screen print video's on youtube but cannot determine print resolution. One printer suggested that if he could print bar codes then the tracks and pads should be no problem. I just wondered if anyone on the forum has any experience of this please ?. I am particularly concerned about the holes in the center of each solder pad and cannot afford to lose them as that would make drilling of the 0.9mm holes extremely difficult.
Thank you .....
John Kent (Andover, UK)
A possible alternative is to screen print the pads and tracks direct onto the copper clad board and then etch in ferric acid. I have watched all the screen print video's on youtube but cannot determine print resolution. One printer suggested that if he could print bar codes then the tracks and pads should be no problem. I just wondered if anyone on the forum has any experience of this please ?. I am particularly concerned about the holes in the center of each solder pad and cannot afford to lose them as that would make drilling of the 0.9mm holes extremely difficult.
Thank you .....
John Kent (Andover, UK)