EDA Tools

It has been some time that I've been lurking on the Homebrew_PCBs mailing list. A couple days ago someone announced new, Lite (250 pin limited) version of AutoTRAX EDA package,


sooooo... I've downloaded it after filling required form (e-mail address to which the password for running Installer will be sent).




As for the Password the e-mail never came.


I've contacted the author of the package 'bout this matter and received the following:



Does it need a password or not, I would someone to tell me!!

Am I missing something?

@#$%!@#$$@

PCB making

Well, as seen what is needed to transfer the image to the photoresist, here are some other steps that are needed to have the PCB actually made.
For the beginning, the PCB has to be designed in some kind of software:

then the design is 'printed' in file (through a PostScript printer driver). If some 'tweaking' is needed, import it in CorelDraw, and again print it or keep it in the Corel format, as all people that I know that are in graphic film production business do not know what the Gerber format is :(

When the film is 'safe at home', it is placed onto the PCB, under the sheet of glass and exposed for approx 5 minutes at a distance of 20 cm.
The next step is development of the exposed board in NaOH solution (10g/l), temperature between 25 to 30 °C.

After rinsing, ofcourse, etching.

As I do not like Fe3Cl, I prefer to use the HCl + H₂O₂ mixture until all unwanted copper is dissolved.
Next step is drilling, manually, as 95% of my prototypes are on paper boards, and then, good luck :)

Some photos

Well some photos :)

Insignia on 20W Philips tube

The two tubes placed in the wooden box, reflectors are made out a 100mm sewage PVC tube cuted in half and lined with some reflective foil.

and this the 'comptraction' as it is made out of some MDF

Well, with the 'comptraction" the boards 200 x 300 mm can be produced with 8/8 rules

Still, a timer has to be 'produced' (shoemaker has some holes in his shoes), but untill a sand clock is used to time the exposure

As, for today, that's enough, some software has to be debugged (PIC)

Just to start

In the beginning, there was light!

Just came to create a blog in a language that's no t my native.

Got bored to discuss with people through some mailng lists, and figured out that is much easier to create a blogg. :)

As some people (friends, etc.) are sometimes pissing me off, regarding erasing, EPROMs, PIC (JW) microcontrollers, making PCB's, etc using mercury vapour bulbs with scattered outside baloon, this is the RIGHT way of doing things.

You go out and purchase an ORDINARY germicide lamp (very similar to an fluo, but much more dangerous), and that one will not be suitable for PCB production). Some knowledge hidden here - will be revealed in next posts :)

The GERMICIDAL lamp looks as one below (WOW, it's transparent)

Just to get an approximate perception on it's size, some of 2716 EEPROMs are lined up below

questions posed may, or may not be answered.