Prototyping and One-Offs - Input Required.

[vvanherk]

Hello All.

I've been out of the electronics field for some time, and looking to get back into it and do some hobby/experiment work at home.

I still have some breadboards kicking around, but what are some good ways these days for building some one-offs and prototypes (just standard sized through hole stuff, no smt or anything).

Also, I would like to make my own PCB at some point, depending on what I'm working on. Any input on tools, technologies, and methods for doing this at home would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tpetar]

For fast, easy and cheap way for making PCB is toner transfer process.

Creating PCBs with the toner transfer method


In my expirience best paper is Verbatim Photo Glossy Paper 150g. With this paper transfer is almost 100%, You can make even SMD PCB.

 

[RetroTechie]

(just standard sized through hole stuff, no smt or anything)

There's no reason to stay away from SMT parts for prototyping purposes. For example: suppose you make a PCB at home, and you include a resistor somewhere. Using through-hole resistor, your PCB needs 2 holes drilled, and when soldering you have to bend wires, cut to length, insert in holes & solder. With SMT resistor just 2 small pads (in a pinch you can solder SMT resistor across a track if there's room), 0 holes to drill, put SMT part in place, hold down, tiny bit of solder on one side, then other side, done. Replacing with another value is just as easy.

Some SMT parts like PLCC are also pretty easy to hand-solder (with a bit of practice).

Basically: do what works best for you - but don't avoid SMT parts just because it's small & looks difficult to work with...

If digital logic is your cup of tea, have a look at CPLD or FPGA development boards. Totally different ballpark, but can be very, very useful when used in the right places.

And you might consider having PCBs made by a 3rd party. Relatively expensive especially for one-offs, but for complex designs (or something you build a small series of) it may just be worth it. The pro's are much better at producing circuit boards than you are... :wink: (and depending on how good you are with PCB design software, potentially a great timesaver too). There's many PCB producers to choose from.

 

[vvanherk]

There's no reason to stay away from SMT parts for prototyping purposes.

Thanks for the SMT info RetroTechie. I'll take a look at that sometime in the near future. For now, I have a small stock of through hole parts, so wanted to play around with that first.

---------- Post added at 07:23 ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 ----------

For fast, easy and cheap way for making PCB is toner transfer process.

Creating PCBs with the toner transfer method

In my expirience best paper is Verbatim Photo Glossy Paper 150g. With this paper transfer is almost 100%, You can make even SMD PCB.

Super. Thanks for the info tpetar.

 

[tpetar]

If You choose to use toner transfer technique, also try with this Verbatim, and my suggestion is to try PnP Press and Pill Blue Folie 20 sheets cost 33



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