Ultimate Guide to Inkjet Direct PCB Printing

Archive BatchPCB
1

BatchPCB is great and if you have the time it’s a no brainer for small boards. However, making a Homebrew PCB has many advantages such as instant gratification and low cost. There are many different techniques but the fastest/easiest/cheapest way is to use an inkjet printer capable of directly printing on CDs and use an etch resistant ink. You can find answers if you are looking for bits and pieces and willing to try a few things out but until now it has been the EE experimenter’s best kept secret.

However, I made it easier and made an idiot-proof step by step guide along with a kit for those that just want to get started and make PCBs quickly and easy without doing any hacking or major modifications. I also made several innovations and improvements such as a special laser cut stencil and finding the best possible ink after many different trial and error tests.

Yes there are limitations and sacrifices but I don’t claim this is the only way nor do I claim it is the best way but rather a way that works for sure and easy to follow.

I have written this guide to provide 100% reproducible results. I cover everything from how to prepare the circuit board, how to save the image, how long to bake the board at what temperature to dry it and how long to etch the board in great detail. Follow these instructions and you can have a board in a matter of minutes.

Check out the tutorial here.

Check out the kit here.

Making Homebrew PCBs has never been easier.

2

This looks super cool and much easier than the old toner transfer method I have been using but I’m always a little skeptical :).

Anyone else have any independent experience with it?

I would switch to this method in a heartbeat if I knew it truely worked just as well as the toner transfer method but I would like to hear some other feedback before investing in a compatible printer and the kit and everything.

3

You can see a guide here with details from others who have tried it, including equipment comments. Otherwise, hit the HomeBrew PCB Yahoo mailing list.

http://techref.massmind.org/techref/pcb … resist.htm

The “guide” in the original post really just gives some basic steps that are specific to the kit he’s selling.

4

Actually, I’m working with James at massmind to make this the ultimate kit/set of instructions. He has the kit and will review it shortly.

The key is getting a proper CD holder and the right ink. Otherwise you will not get repeatable results.

Rest assured this is hours and hours of trying different inks and the exact procedure is a lot more than basic steps. It’s like baking a cake. You could add flour and water and heat it in an oven but I doubt it will turn out the way you want without more details.

All parts very reasonably priced and this is a service to hobby DIYers. Try finding a properly designed stainless steel laser cut stencil for $25 somewhere else.