Tips: Thermal Transfer prototype PCB

Objective: Homemade low cost PCB, tips for student that doing electronic project.
Required: LASER Printer, Matte Paper, Iron.

Honestly the writer have seen this method introduced on the internet many years ago. But this is the first attempt to make a PCB in this way. Hope others can learn some tips and basic skill from here.

If we request prototype PCB from the factory, charges can be decade Ringgit Malaysia, if someone need a few (but not up to a ton) in quantity, it is sufficient for us to buy a printer already.

This post is not intend to teach you how you can iron the pattern you want on a copper foiled board (as you can easilly get the information on the internet), but to show you it is reliable and workable.

The Matte Paper below is used for this experiment. It is a sample from the writer's friend. This is the key of success transfer. In the printer option choose 'card board' and 'Best Quality'.

The circuit board will look like the picture below after doing thermal iron transfer, the ESYINK Matte Paper work just great to transfer almost 100% of toner (carban powder) onto the circuit board.

Picture below: After etched with our favorite PCB etching chemical solution-Ferite Choride. It take about 2-3minutes for etching process to take away the unwanted copper from the circuit board. The key to fast etching is - use cheap PCB with thinner foil (if you are not dealing with power electronic), use stronger Ferite Choride solution with lesser water (water is a need! But not too much), and shaking the container use for etching .

Use fine sand paper to remove the coating.

After some messy drilling work.

Finally...

Okay, it is done! Enjoy your project.