Making a Double Sided PCB with Plated Vias

This is just a collection of short clips outlining (almost) every step that it took to create a double sided PCB with plated through-holes for my UAV project.

I'm using the toner transfer method in this video which didn't turn out too well because my laser printer doesn't print dark enough over large copper areas. That is why there is some etching away on the copper ground areas. I should have used photoresist but it's a pain to set up. Also, the alignment technique that I'm using doesn't work perfectly and I actually scrapped the first board I made because the alignment was too far off.

Please turn on annotations. They will show all the steps.

First song used is by Kevin MacLeod - "Devastation and Revenge"
Second song used is by Eric Skiff - "Come and Find Me - B mix"

Note: This video is the re-uploaded version. The old version has been unlisted. The music has been changed and there are minor volume changes.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• PCB
• printed
• circuit
• board
• copper
• plating
• via
• through
• hole
• tin
• tinnit
• toner
• transfer
• electroplating
• panel
• electronics
• DIY
• prototyping

[ThePCBrapido]

Congratulations, very nice video and work!

Could you let me nmnow the compoinents of your palting solutions as well as the quantities?

I'm trying to experiment it herer at Brazil, I will post the results.

Best Regards,

Samuel

[PatheticComputing]

@ThePCBrapido Please see my video "PCB Copper Panel Plating Through-Hole / Via Tutorial". In the description I have the link to the recipe. The only difference is that you replace Copper Gleam CLX with Polyethylene Glycol 3350.

[seawolf76it]

Ciao Dan, my name is Roberto. I always follow your video with interest. More or less seem we are trying to make same things. I'm beginning to put some videos even in my channel. Hope you'll find them interesting. Are you using "black magic ink" to active holes in your pcb? Do you know the resistence of that ink when is dry? I'll try to order a bottle even if I'm not sure to find in europe. I also saw in this video you use a tin plating solution, did you had problems with tin electroplating?

[PatheticComputing]

@seawolf76it Hi Roberto. The ink is Higgins Black Magic, but I don't think it's necessary to get the exact same ink that I'm using. Probably most acrylic inks will work. The ink is just a carrier for the graphite. Actually, the ink I used in this video isn't as good as the Speedball acrylic ink that I used previously. I don't really remember the exact resistance, but it wasn't very good, maybe 60 to 200 ohms.

The tin plating solution had problems which I never bothered to fix.

[larssolvsten]

how do you remove the acrylic paint from you plated through-holes after etching

[PatheticComputing]

@larssolvsten I don't. It doesn't seem to harm anything.

[peachmunich]

Wow! Really nice! And lovely music. Thx for sharing your knowledge.

[lowlypawn]

Wow, that's amazing. Looks like a lot of work!

[PatheticComputing]

@Dibblah1900 It's a Brother HL-3070CW Color Laser Printer. It's something my dad picked up one day and I decided to try it out for toner transfer and it works great.

[Dibblah1900]

Hi! Nice video. You say you now have a better printer which does block black more evenly, I assume - What is the printer? :)