FSBUS PCBs

[FS4]

Hello everyone,I know this has been talked about before, but I would like to know how most people have made PCBs for FSBUS. I have read through the different post about various methods and I have tried the toner transfer idea, but the traces (ink) tend to melt together when they are close together. Does press 'n' peel work better? What is the best method? Does anyone make them in the U.S.? Thanks

[Guest mondo]

I have made all of the FSBUS boards and am in the process of reworking some of the display boards as there are many differnt styles of display leds. I use the resist coated boards. Using blacklights and a good inkjet printer and transparency paper. I find that it makes pretty perfect boards. any other questions about this process, let me know.

[Guest Erups]

There is no "best" method.The professionals, and many amateurs, use photoetching:boards with a layer of uv-sensitive material are exposed to uv light with a mask called master: it's the circuit printed on transparency.The board is then passed in a solution to fix the uv-sensitive material not exposed, and wash away the part that has received uv-light (thus leaving the parts under the lines of the circuit).This board is then passed in acid: the acid corrodes the cu not protected by the photoresist (the uv-sensitive material) leaving the other parts.This in the end just leaves the "wires" defined by the master on transparency.Variations arepress'n peel: instead of using uv-light and photoresist with the master transparency, you just print the master on the press'n peel sheet, and pass it directly on the board.Then etch it in acid.Then there is the mill method: with a computer controlled mill or cnc machine, you just "erode" the cu layer on the board leaving the necessary parts.Hope this helps

[Guest Binkles]

After trying to make my own boards for fsbus using the photo system I'm giving up on fsbus and just going to purchase the opencockpits.com boards.If I had of gone their way to start with - it would of saved me a lot of money.I really think there is an opportunity for someone to make some money on the side with etching these boards, but until I can buy ready made boards for FSbus I'm giving up on them.I followed the instructions on the developing, the etching to the letter, and it still didn't come out right - I realise it's just me and others have had a lot of success, I'm just sick of wasting money trying to get this right - and wish to move on to the next stage of building the cockpit.

[iwik]

Laurence,Dont give up mate FSbus is fine,give me a ring,been waiting to hear how you got on.Dont be embarassed we all have to start somewhere .you are right, to make pcbs is abit of an art.Im sure we can get your boards going.Les

[Guest Binkles]

Well I have to say I feel foolish :)After saying what I had said I then cleaned up the last of my solution, and got a perfect board :)Wifey and I went to the shop and gave me one great poece of advice - what I had done wrong was had the water too hot in the etching tube that I have made.Bought some more boards, and some solution and again made a perfect board :) Shame about my drilling, but I'm getting there :)I will be putting up a website shortly - I'm charging the battery on my digital camera so I can start the dummies go at cockpit building :)

[Guest Erups]

He he :)shouting at the this thing, sometimes makes it work ;)Edit to remove profanity - Editor

[Guest Binkles]

Here's a quick guide that I use for the PCB making.http://www.nzdragons.com/pcb/pcb.htmlPics at the bottom