I'm on a quest to make some PCBs. I was going to wait for PortlandBeaverton TechShop to open, but it's clear now that that's going to be a ways away.
I need boards to etch:
* Copper Clad Boards ("FR4", says drtwist) (1.6 mm thick (35um copper), says the riccibitti link below)
* Surplus Gizmos has tons of scrap copper clad. It's also available very cheaply on ebay.
I ended up ordering 50 sheets of 1/2oz copper clad FR-4, 0.060 thick, 6"x11" from "abcfab" on eBay.
Special paper for transfering my design onto the boards (not strictly necessary, but may provide higher quality transfers)
* Toner Transfer Paper (Digikey 182-1003-ND)
* Green TRF (182-1021-ND) - improves quality of etching by binding to the toner.
I ended up using magazine paper. It works really well, and is practically free, unlike toner transfer paper which is about $1 a sheet. I haven't found the green TRF to be necessary.
Chemicals to etch with:
* Chemicals (Ferric Chloride or Ammonium Persulphate, says drtwist)
** http://www.k9spud.com/wiki/PCB:Etchants
** http://www.opencircuits.com/Chemical_Etchants
* I'll be getting some Sodium Persulfate from Travis.
I ended up using the muriatic acid + hydrogen peroxide version. (http://www.instructables.com/id/Stop-using-Ferric-Chloride-etchant!--A-better-etc/)
Chemical resistant gloves. Latex? Rubber dish gloves?
* Rubber dish gloves with the "water catcher" fold on the end.
I bought a box of Nitrile gloves.
Tinner? Flux?
* "liquid tin" from MG Chemicals is available from Norvac (from drtwist)
* Tinner probably isn't necessary with liquid flux.
Liquid tin makes the boards pretty and keeps the copper from oxidizing, which it _will_ do.
A drill press to drill holes (or I could just go 100% SMD)
* Dremel tool (already have it)
* Dremel Rotary Tool Work Station (order from Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-220-01-Rotary-Tool-Station/dp/B00068P48O
* Drill bits. Either micro-carbide (brittle, but works great with a dremel and FR-4 board), or steel (heats up and distorts. Can rip up traces on the board.) Harbor Freight in Portland seems to be a good place to get them. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34640
Snips to cut the board with. FR4 dust is carcinogenic, so you want to make as little of it as possible.
An iron or laminator. I bought and modified a GBC-H212 laminator.
The Method:
* http://www.riccibitti.com/pcb/pcb.htm