PCBs are great ways to take a project to the next level and move away from the breadboards and perfboards. PCBs can now be ordered from board houses like BatchPCB and Seeedstudio's PCB service (I prefer the second one because it is cheaper (~$2/board)), however their long lead times can make them inconvenient for prototypes or other small projects. Having the capacity to make PCBs at home allows you to come up with an idea in the morning and have a finished project by the end of the day. Here's how.
First you will have to procure the correct materials to manufacture the boards. This is the most expensive part as you have to buy a lot of start-up supplies but they last for a long time and are mostly only one time expenses.
The first thing you need are the copper clad boards which you will etch to make the PCBs. I use Jameco #169309 which is a double sided phenolic board. I actually only manufacture single sided boards because it is difficult to make double sided ones at home and align the two designs correctly. But it is nice to have the option and it doesn't cost too much more (especially when you buy in sets of 10).
The next thing on the list is a mini drill press. You need this if you will be manufacturing boards with through-hole components. You need a drill press drill straight holes and avoid breaking the fragile drill bits which are expensive. I bought the Mini Drill Kit (Jameco #2113252) which contains a drill, a stand, and two PCB drill bits (0.04" and 0.076"). If you already have a drill press, you only would need the drill bits which can also be found at Jameco.
You will also need the transfer paper. This is the glossy paper that you will used to transfer the PCB design to the copper before etching. I have found that Staples carries HP brochure paper which works well (Staples #604580). However the type of paper is often personal preference so feel free to experiment. All that has to stay constant is that it is glossy and I have found the thinner the better.
For the chemicals you will need Muriatic Acid (hydrochloric acid which can be found at Home Depot as it is used for cleaning concrete) and Hydrogen Peroxide (find at your nearest CVS). You will also want acetone (also found at Home Depot) to clean the copper boards and remove the toner after you etch the boards. However nail polish remover can also be used.
For safety supplies you will need a mask, chemical goggles (the ones that completely protect the eyes), and rubber gloves. You will be working with dangerous chemicals so it is better safe than sorry.
The rest of the items probably can be found in your house. You will need a clothes iron to transfer the design, a laser jet printer to print the design on the brochure paper, iron wool to clean off the copper boards, plastic trays, glass jars, a towel or rag to protect whatever surface you are making the boards on, and cotton balls.
If you do not have a laser jet printer don't worry. Simply print out the design at home and bring it to a copy center (I used Staples) and have them make a black and white copy (make sure it uses toner) on the glossy paper. However make sure to make multiple copies because you may have to attempt the transfer multiple times.
Now that you have the supplies you can begin the process of making your own PCBs. The first step is designing the board in a CAD software. I recommend using CadSoftUSA's EAGLE and getting their freeware version (it will ask you during install). Design your board and route it. Try to make the traces as large as possible and spaces between traces and pads as large as possible. I have successfully manufactured boards with 10 mil traces and 8 mil clearances but would recommend larger values (set in the Design Rule Check) until you have made several boards.
After the board is designed you need to print it out. First click the "Display" button in the toolbar in the board editor and click "None" and then select "Pads", "Vias", and the layer you wish to print ("Top" or "Bottom"). After doing this click on the print dialog and make sure the scale is set to "1", set area to "Full", select "Black", select "Solid", and select "Mirror" if you are printing the top layer.
My printed designs.
After you have the designs printed out cut them out so you have a better sense of its dimensions. Then cut out a sufficiently sized piece of your copper clad board. I have found that a Dremel works really well but a hacksaw with a little elbow grease works too. Make sure to save the excess copper board as it can be used in future projects.
These are the two boards I will be using. They are excess from previous projects.
Next you have to clean the boards before you can transfer the design. This is a very important step because if there is any junk on the copper surface, the toner will not transfer correctly creating problems later on. First make sure to be wearing rubber gloves to prevent oils from your hands contaminating the boards. Then use acetone or nail polish to clean of any oils or dirt currently on the board. After doing so, use steel wool to scrape off the layer of oxidation and other dirt from the copper. After you should be left with a shiny pinkish copper surface. Make sure to clean both sides of the board!
Properly cleaned boards. Notice the black spot on the bottom right. Make sure you do this on a towel that can be trashed!
After cleaning the boards it is time to transfer the design. This is the most important part of the process and how well you do it will determine if your boards come out. First get your clothes iron (make sure there is no water inside if you have one with steam capability) and turn it to its highest setting. After the iron heats up, lay the design on the copper board and place the hot iron on top of it and apply even, firm pressure. I typically hold it in this position for about 20 seconds. After lift up the iron up and begin heating section of the board. I like to heat the board for about 7 minutes in this fashion to ensure a good transfer. After you are done let the board with the design attached cool for several minutes.
Extreme Ironing!
After the board is cooled place it inside a tray of water and let is soak for about 10 minutes. This will turn most of the paper into pulp so you can peel it off leaving only the toner. Here be careful and only peel if the paper is sufficiently soaked-do not force it. After you have removed the paper, make sure to scrape off as much of the pulp in between traces and pads as the chemical bath doesn't etch through it well meaning you may have shorts that you will have to scratch away. However you are doing a balancing act because I would rather have to scratch away traces than do more green wire fixes because I scraped away the toner. This is also the stage where you can fix any parts where the toner didn't transfer. Use a permanent marker to draw these traces, making sure to use multiple layers. If the transfer wasn't good and you want to try again, simply wipe off the toner with acetone or nail polish remover and try again.
My boards with the transferred designs and Sharpie-ed fixes.
After you have the boards with the transferred designs, it is time to mix the etching solution. Many people use Ferric Chloride as their etchant but I prefer using Hydrochloric acid with Hydrogen Peroxide because it is translucent allowing you to see the etching progress, cheap, and doesn't stain like Ferric Chloride. Mix these chemicals in a plastic tray at the ratio of 2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide to 1 part Hydrochloric acid. When you do so make sure to pour in the Hydrogen Peroxide first and then the acid to reduce the risk of burns. I use a glass jar to pour in the chemicals because often their cases are unwieldy and allows me to measure the amount beforehand. Make sure you are wearing your safety gear! Then place the boards into the bath. The solution will turn green and this is the copper that is being etched creating Cupric Chloride. This etchant works by first oxidizing the copper (the Hydrogen Peroxide) and then the Hydrochloric acid eats the oxidized portion away. The toner protects the surface underneath from being oxidized and there for etched. During the etching process, tilt the boards so the etchant reaches both the top and bottom using some prop (I use chopsticks). I have noticed that the bottom of the board etches faster so make sure to flip them every once in a while. Etching takes about 10 minutes and make sure to avoid over-etching the boards as this creates a lot of work later on. After you have finished etching the boards, remove them from the solution and place them in water to stop the etching process. When you are finished, you should neutralize the solution using about a pound of baking soda. Make sure to place it in small increments because it bubbles violently early on much like vinegar and baking soda.
Board being etched. Notice the copper in the corners has been etched away.
The etched board.
Time to neutralize!
Once you have the etched board wipe off the toner with acetone or nail polish remover. Next mark any breaks or shorts you find with a marker. To fix shorts use a pen knife or the like that can cut the traces. Next cut the boards if they were panelized and you can begin drilling.
The drill press.
A drilled board.
Finished boards with breaks fixed.
Done!