PCB Etching Qs. If you have any As... GIVE THEM TO ME!

[Biased]

I've been absolutely bored and/or busy with my life for the past few weeks. Playing video games is off my list of things to do for right now for multiple reasons. Since I've been working so much, I'm earning a lot of money in overtime and also not spending any. This leaves me currently with $150 extra to spend before next Friday and another cool $400-500 or so after that. Since $150 isn't enough for me to get the parts I need for everything in my NESp, and I need a new source of a case, I've been contemplating learning something new and potentially useful: PCB etching. I figure if I learn etching it could be useful for creating a more physically stable and better-looking controller/video amp/misc circuit than the one in Ben's book (I don't care if it would be more expensive or larger ). I've already got most of the around-the-house/everyday things the hackaday tutorial lists. I'd still need to get etchant & copper board though. Before I plunge into this, I'm definitely going to need guidance though. That's where the benheckers come in.

tl;dr I want to try etching my own circuit boards and eventually integrate them into projects.

The questions I want to ask are:

1. Does anyone here have any experience with PCB etching? If so I'd like some tips.
2. Which program would one use to design the circuit?
3. Would putting my own PCBs into an NESp benefit the design/ease of use or ease of repair of the portable?
4. Does anyone have a better suggestion of what I should use my $150 for (providing I leave the situation with gained knowledge or a tangible object that is really cool)?

[limpport]

1. Not yet. I have everything I need, but have had no time yet. This method looks promising. Just search through Instructables, and you will find a lot more.
2. Eagle is a good program. It's what I've used to design boards. The link is to the freeware version. Although it limits the board size, you won't need something gigantic to do the NES controller boards.
3. Yes, it means minimal wiring, so there will be no faulty soldering connections, as soldering is at a minimum, just attaching things to the boards.
4. No, stick with your portable! What could be cooler? Maybe make a mini controller or a custom controller for your NES.

[Biased]

I have that same instructable bookmarked already . It seems legit and anything that will save you from using solution will save you money.

[simon66]

1. Not yet. I have everything I need, but have had no time yet. This method looks promising. Just search through Instructables, and you will find a lot more.
2. Eagle is a good program. It's what I've used to design boards. The link is to the freeware version. Although it limits the board size, you won't need something gigantic to do the NES controller boards.
3. Yes, it means minimal wiring, so there will be no faulty soldering connections, as soldering is at a minimum, just attaching things to the boards.
4. No, stick with your portable! What could be cooler? Maybe make a mini controller or a custom controller for your NES.

Total agree with you.

BTW I got everything I need to make a custom board acept a laser printer... I only got a HP deskjet F4180... Im not surre if I can echt with that. BTW I would love to see your portable :p

[Biased]

Total agree with you.

BTW I got everything I need to make a custom board acept a laser printer... I only got a HP deskjet F4180... Im not surre if I can echt with that. BTW I would love to see your portable :p

Laser printers are everywhere. If you go to a copy shop or to a public library (or your high school if you're still in school), they should have one. I'm not sure how well it would turn out to use a photocopied circuit board layout as your resist on a PCB, though. You would want to print from the original image file, I suppose. You'd also have to get them to let you use your own transfer paper... It sounds difficult but that's what I'm going to do!