MG Chemicals sells pre-sensitized copper-clad PCB blanks for use with their exposure and etch kit. Pretty straightforward "print pattern on transparency; place on PCB; expose to light; wash off exposed portion; etch" process. The "expose" part of this process consists of using MGC's "daylight" fluorescent lamp. If it's truly a "daylight" bulb, wouldn't direct sunlight work for this purpose? I presume this bulb is of a particular wavelength. What is it? Any other ideas to use this process to etch PCBs without their lamp?Thanks,-- Al, the usual

I use sunlight to expose all my boards. The only difficulty is waiting for a clear sky, so the exposure is predictable and the edges are sharp.

Photo-etch light source?

Mar 04, 2007 22 Replies

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Usual Suspect 19 years ago

I meant to say "submerge it in developer..."

The MG Chemicals demo video <

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shows that there is a developer solution into which the exposed PCB needs to be developed. They just use a foam brush to brush off the exposed resist. Looks like a pretty quick process.

Are you using NaOH in place of the developer? To supplement the developer? Or are you using it as a wash to remove the unneeded (exposed) resist after development?

And are you using MG Chem. PCBs? (Just want to understand what chems work with what boards...)

A great idea.

Thanks,

Al, the usual

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Jamie 19 years ago

FWIW- Some people just enjoy the challenge of re-inventing the wheel... Jamie

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sirkituk 19 years ago

I live and work in UK I use what I refer to as standard PCB board (purchased from Rapid Electronics) They have a website catalogue you could check for more details

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With these boards NaOH is the developer The unexposed resist can be removed with alcohol (methylated spirits) but since the heat of a soldering iron strips it as you solder that's not really needed and it does protect the board from oxidation prior to soldering Regards sirkituk

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