Using copper clad boards is one of the most cost efficient ways to generate hobby or prototype printed circuit boards (Pcb). A copper clad board is a laminate of non conductive substrate (often fiberglass and epoxy) and copper, that is used to generate printed circuit board tracks that associate components of a circuit soldered to it. They are quite cheap, and they can be made into pro seeing boards with uncomplicated household materials.
Pros:
- Cheap: Creating your board from a copper clad is most often economy than ordering a prototype batch from a manufacturer, since they often fee a setup fee or base price, which when buying a large volume isn't a problem since it represents a small division of the unabridged order, but when buying one or two boards it can be as much as ten times the cost of a copper clad, plus shipping.
- Fast: Ordering from a maker can take a long time. Most orders are shipped in five to six days for the basic shipping option, but if you need a board fast you can expect to pay quite a lot more, and it still takes two or three days to arrive. Manufacture a board from a copper clad is very fast, specially if you already have the materials needed at home or in the lab.
- Customizable: Developing your own copper clad boards has the great advantage of creating institution shapes and sizes, thing that most manufacturers can't (or won't) do, or will fee exorbitant fees. This gives you the flexibility to make your circuits fit into odd shapes, or Manufacture actually small boards.
Cons:
- Chemicals: To manufacture a copper clad into a usable pcb, you need to work with some corrosive chemicals to take off the copper in order to generate the tracks that associate the components. Using protective equipment, working in a well ventilated area and allowable handling could mitigate the dangers, but disposing of spent chemicals is still an issue.
- The process: The process itself is one of the disadvantages of working with copper clads, as you will be working with heat, extra paper and printing of the manufacture if you use the favorite toner change method. Since you will be doing it yourself and not using pro equipment, there's a opening of the toner not transferring correctly or etching artifacts, which will make that single board unusable.
- Soldermask: Soldermask is that generally green lacquer that covers most commercially made circuit boards. It covers the copper tracks and allows for easier soldering, specially in high density boards where pads (area where components are soldered to the board) are close together. There are ways to apply a soldermask yourself for a pro appearance, but for hobby circuits that is most of the times purely cosmetic, since the same security could be achieved by tinning the tracks.
- Tinning: Tinning of the tracks is an additional one possible con if you don't go for the soldermask finish. by hand tinning is quite monotonous and prone to bulking, since you are manually applying a layer of tin solder on top of the tracks. There are some chemicals that cover the tracks with a layer of tin, but they are dangerous and want extra considerations in use and disposal.
Soldering Equipment
Copper Clad Boards For Pcb - Pros and Cons
Copper Clad Boards For Pcb - Pros and Cons
