1. Homemade circuit board PCB board method:

1) Cut the copper-clad PCB board to the dimensions specified by the circuit diagram.

2) Place wax paper on a steel plate. Using a pen, trace the circuit diagram onto the wax paper at a 1:1 scale. Cut the wax paper along the edges of the circuit diagram to match the size of the PCB board. Position the cut wax paper on the copper-clad board. Prepare a printing material by mixing paint with talcum powder to achieve the desired consistency. Dip a brush into the mixture and evenly apply it over the wax paper. Repeat this process several times to transfer the circuit pattern onto the PCB. This method allows for reuse of the stencil and is suitable for small-scale production.

3) Prepare a corrosion solution by mixing 1 gram of potassium chlorate with 40 ml of 15% hydrochloric acid. Apply this solution to the areas of the circuit board that need to be etched.

4) Rinse the etched PCB thoroughly with water. Remove any remaining paint using a solvent like banana oil, and wash the board again to ensure all corrosive residue is removed. Finally, apply a layer of rosin solution, allow it to dry, and proceed to drill the necessary holes.

1. Homemade Circuit Board PCB Method 2: There are several methods to create printed circuit boards under amateur conditions, but they are often either time-consuming, complex “craftsmanship,” or of unsatisfactory quality. My method, however, offers a better comprehensive result. The procedure is as follows:

1) Create a printing plate diagram. Represent the pads as dots and the connections as single lines, ensuring precise placement and size. 2) Cut the printing plate to size and clean the copper foil surface. 3) Use carbon paper to transfer the diagram to the printing board. If the circuit is simple and the maker has experience, this step can be skipped. 4) Paste standard pre-cut symbols (pads) with varying inner and outer diameters according to the actual components. Apply tape lines of different widths based on size. Pre-cut symbols and tape are available at electronics stores. 5) Use a soft hammer, such as one made of smooth rubber or plastic, to tap the stickers to ensure full adhesion to the copper foil, focusing on corners and line overlaps. In cold weather, use a heater to warm the surface to improve adhesion. 6) Place the board in ferric chloride for etching, ensuring the liquid temperature does not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. After etching, promptly rinse the board, especially if it has thin lines. 7) Punch the holes, polish the copper foil with fine sandpaper, apply rosin alcohol solution, and let it dry to complete the production. This method produces a board quality very close to professional standards. A 0.3mm tape can fit between the IC pins, reducing the need for short jumpers on the board, thus saving time and effort. I frequently use this method for experimental boards or small quantities in my work.

3. Homemade Circuit Board PCB Method 3: Dissolve one part of lacquer sheet (shellac, available from chemical raw material stores) in three parts of anhydrous alcohol and stir well. The resulting solution, which should have a distinct color, can be used as a protective paint for the circuit board. First, polish the copper-clad plate with fine sandpaper, then use a duckbill pen (or an ink duckbill pen used for drawing on a compass) to draw the circuit. The duckbill pen, which has an adjustable nut for stroke thickness, allows you to create very thin, smooth lines using a ruler and a triangle ruler. If the paint is too thin, add more lacquer; if too thick, add a few drops of anhydrous alcohol. Errors can be corrected with a small cotton swab dipped in anhydrous alcohol. Once the circuit board is drawn, etch it in ferric chloride solution. After etching, remove the paint with a cotton ball dipped in anhydrous alcohol. Due to the fast evaporation of alcohol, store the protective paint in a sealed small bottle, like an ink bottle. If the paint thickens, simply add more anhydrous alcohol.

4. Homemade Circuit Board PCB Method 4: Apply an instant sticker to the copper foil of the copper-clad plate, draw the circuit on the sticker, and use a carving knife to carve through the sticker layer to form the required circuit. Remove the non-circuit parts and etch with ferric chloride or use current electrolysis. This method produces an ideal circuit board. Maintain a corrosion temperature of about 55°C for faster etching. Rinse the corroded board with clean water, remove the sticky notes, make holes, and apply rosin alcohol solution for use.

5. Homemade Circuit Board PCB Method 5: 1) Arrange components according to their shape from the circuit schematic diagram, considering the board’s area, component density, and placement. Position larger components first, then smaller ones, and ensure adjacent components are placed near each other and arranged neatly. 2) Avoid right-angle turns in connecting wires and ensure smooth transitions. Wires should not cross or detour excessively. If necessary, print wires on the reverse side of the board and connect them to the front with piercing nails or use additional insulated wires when soldering components. 3) Minimize interference by keeping the input and output sections of the board separate.

6. Homemade Circuit Board PCB Method 6: For radio hobbyists, a “sub-printing” method is introduced for making printed circuit boards. The method is as follows: 1) Print the circuit board diagram on 80g copy paper at a 1:1 ratio with a printer. Hand-drawn diagrams are also acceptable, provided the base paper is flat. 2) Replace the fax paper in a fax machine with hot melt plastic film (available from our company). Feed the circuit diagram into the fax machine and use the copy function to transfer the diagram onto the plastic film, creating a “printed original” of the circuit board. 3) Use double-sided tape to securely attach the plastic film to the copper-clad plate, ensuring it is flat and wrinkle-free. Avoid covering the melted part with tape as it can affect production quality. 4) Apply paint evenly over the plastic film with a brush, moving in one direction only to avoid wrinkling. After completing the painting, carefully remove the plastic film. Once dry, the board can be etched. For multiple pieces, create a wooden frame slightly larger than the circuit board, lay a silk screen flat on it, and use double-sided tape to fix the plastic film beneath the screen. Place the copper-clad plate on the table, align it with the screen, and use a brush to apply paint in one direction. Remove the screen frame to reveal the printed circuit boards.