Making a Circuit Board From Scratch

PLEASE READ THIS VIDEO DESCRIPTION FOR DETAILS:

Here, I make a control unit for creating chaser animations for my various electrical projects. It's composed of two circuit boards, one that handles the logic and another to control the high-voltage loads. The full circuit is programmed with numerous animation patterns, the speed and brightness of which can be adjusted with a control panel.

Note: This video is not intended to be a tutorial. To learn the ins and outs of making PCBs at home, Google "PCB toner transfer method." However, I have included some notes below. If you have a question, I'm happy to answer it in the comments if it hasn't already been answered here.

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TOOLS & MATERIALS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO
(MORE DETAILS BELOW)
▶ HP Glossy Premium Presentation Paper (CG988A): (Apparently, this is no longer produced. If you find a good alternative, please let everyone know in the comments.)

OTHER NOTES
▶ I design my circuit boards in Autodesk Eagle and print the final layup from Adobe Illustrator.
▶ The sanding is to remove surface oxidation on the copper-clad board. As you might be able to tell, this particular stock had been sitting for quite a while and had become pretty cloudy.
▶ I use an HP LaserJet HP1102w in this video, but most laser printers will work. (The toner in Brother printers is generally reported not to give good results, however.) Will your specific printer work? I don't know, since I don't have one to test.
▶ I wear cotton gloves once I begin cleaning the copper-clad board (a) to avoid contaminating it with oils before applying the toner mask, and (b) because the boards get pretty hot coming out of the laminator.
▶ I use Goof Off Professional Strength Remover to clean the boards and to remove the toner, but regular acetone works, too.
▶ The etching solution is 2 parts hydrogen peroxide (available at any drug store) and 1 part muriatic acid (available at nearly any hardware store).
▶ The toner mask sometimes looks white because, with the HP paper I use, a thin layer of paper sticks to the toner. It appears lighter or darker depending on lighting and moisture.
▶ The "silk screen" on the top is added simply by using the same toner-transfer process.
▶ The red thing with all the holes in it is a homemade fume extractor.
▶ I program the microcontroller using an Arduino Duemilanove (see above for newer model) through the USBTiny ISP Programmer (see above for newer model). Note: I cannot provide support for these items.
▶ The spray I coat the circuit boards with is Techspray's Fine-L-Kote HT, a conformal coating that prevents oxidation. It can be soldered through if necessary.

[jimboyle]

The paper you recommend is no longer available. Have you found a good substitute?

[miteb.decarburetor]

I love the style of the video!
No useless talk, nothing distracting. The best description is "I do and I understand"

[jakelear]

I work for a printed circuit boards company and it can be so stressful at times but you just made this look ridiculously satisfying

[johnv]

For anyone to acquire the knowledge and then make the actual fabrication of a finished product as you illustrated here, would most likely take months of research and practice unless they have worked with someone like you. With this message I just wanted to express my gratitude for putting this well edited video and following up with important details in the description.

So for lack of a better word... THANK YOU!!!

[__Shade__]

This is fantastic! My 7 year old son is obsessed with circuit boards, he keeps pulling them out of everything and really wants to learn how to make them. We both really enjoyed this video thank you:)

[johndoe-lzfo]

I wish I had someone like you to teach me this stuff when I was kid. Or have an education system that taught us hands on learning like this.
You should think about teaching this stuff at a school!

[IronShredd]

I would never have thought that a tutorial regarding something of this nature would have been at all effective without oral commentary. This video proved me wrong.

[mrbeep]

This dude is out here making Circuit Boards from scratch while I am sitting in my room doing nothing with my life. I got to learn more so I can begin making my own circuit boards for my own purposes.

[Andreiy]

No boring intro, no stupid music, straight to the subject, great presentation, this is how you win subscribers.

[GogramanSam]

The most interesting video on YouTube I've ever seen.

[creuzm]

On behalf of humanity, I hereby award you the highest level of distinction. The world is a better place because of you. Keep it up.

[WesleyTreat]

Thanks for all the great feedback, everyone! Please see the video description for all the details. And if you like watching things get made, please subscribe.

[senthilnathanviswanathan]

Bro, I am a layman in electronics. PCB and the various components look terrible to me. Don't know how such a complicated looking PCBs are made. You made me understand in a better way, without talking one word. That's great.

[EMPBossHacks]

@Wesley Treat This is one of the best tutorials Ive seen in my entire life

[armandomagallon]

Very good no irritating background music, no useless talking just pure details .

[haoxiong]

I am quite enjoying this video, BTW the etching part is so perfect that it almost looks like an industry made PCB.

[samuelranta]

I loved the fact that not a word was spoken, just shown! Others make three times longer videos never getting this much in one. In this, the whole process was compressed to 10 minutes!

[biancamaria]

I am so impressed with this video that im subscribing right now!!.
1. Amazing Camera work. I mean really, if anyone has to comment it will be compliments!
2. Attention to detail blows me away with the camera placement, zoom, explanation, parts list, soldering that box you made is unreal!!
3. Why isn't that a speed controller for a space ship :P

[kiraelayne]

Not only is this super cool if you want to see how a circuit board is made, but the cinematography is by far the best I've seen as of late on Youtube. Props to everyone involved in the creating and editing this video!

[pcelarstvo]

This is poetry of video making! Enjoyed, subscribed. excellent job.