How to print my own PCB?

Hi

I am looking to build a basic heating system using the attached design. It incorporates a 555, a variable resistor, some diodes and other bits and pieces I don't understand but soon will.

The only problem is finding/making a board for it. I made a board in school once where we used some sort of pen to draw the outline and dipped the thing in acid.

With cost as main the limitation here, what is the easiest way to achieve my goal. Can I print my own board at a reasonable price (*C,%4[;;SRQFH49(&MA!W!?!(UJT%>+BS2KRX'"/.&8ME[8U9KLIBN/*S$/Q8+,$]>*MQRT1TE375/CP;Z*(9A85QC MI8-%&BNK[>)7%,:[EGMU142O_1.J2$WM-D8SSST3D4D%;;=$;>__31/*VD6E:,60S) M1,L8%JJ6N"Q)(MVXP((AR4,..B4K2\XV+ M(NZ4\J42T5F-KG.+HVAV.L7F@F5-7I$K:,W[RX(>CBH-]Z)S.T-3P4UG'0F77 M%"U'%H (1#W+LB[N5'WC5'8$=B;145(KDE3Y!2_QQTTTQ1M8P1NV$4W[,#Y0K+P**U4@SE\5#I#@HD,2,&S&,J>=%86%+ M])8E?:9O@E0@BJ%POU6.5B54.(-Q17.-(9&-UP1C]D(R^+@]+I1WY,&07D$Q ML3A1RI1J!E5IX988KY-V@W`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

Reply to
Carl Gilbert
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For a one-off or so, you can just use perfboard/vectorboard. You could use something like

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and cut the traces to isolate the nodes that belong together and then solder in the components and wire the nodes together. Or just use the kind with single copper rings around each hole and string the leads together with wire & solder.

Doing a nice job with home etching is certainly possible -- lots of folks do it -- but expect to make some investment in the equipment and still end up with some boards having un-etched copper islands in places and mossy, eaten-through traces in other spots.

However, take a look at

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for one place to get nice prototype boards done at a reasonable price. I'm sure there are others (I'd like to hear about them, too) but the consensus I've seen around here is quite positive with respect to Olimex. You'd need to create the files for the board but there is a freeware not-for- commercial-use license of Eagle that would work just fine for this board.
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--
Rich Webb   Norfolk, VA
Reply to
Rich Webb

Complete instructions and lots of tips on how to do that are at

Best regards,

Bob Masta dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis

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Reply to
Bob Masta

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