Electronics > Beginners
Dead bug copper clad prototype board advice ?
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lordvader88:
I haven't used any yet, how should I clean and de-oxidize the copper before use , I have iso-alcohol and weak solder resin?

I want to make some cool RF projects soon, what's some advice for making isolation channels, or islands, I need super glue I guess. I have hot glue, is that any good ?

what tools make nice clean cuts in the copper ?
cur8xgo:

--- Quote from: lordvader88 on June 14, 2019, 10:33:34 pm ---I haven't used any yet, how should I clean and de-oxidize the copper before use , I have iso-alcohol and weak solder resin?

I want to make some cool RF projects soon, what's some advice for making isolation channels, or islands, I need super glue I guess. I have hot glue, is that any good ?

--- End quote ---

If memory serves me right you may see good examples of dead bug RF and RF PCB prototyping techniques in general in:

ARRL handbooks
Robert Pease writings
Art of Electronics
ogden:

--- Quote from: lordvader88 on June 14, 2019, 10:33:34 pm ---I have hot glue, is that any good ?

--- End quote ---

Wow, No!!!!   :o

You need thermally stable glue because when you solder something onto island it is heated over 250oC. Hot glue will just melt away or even vaporize.
bd139:
I make a ton of stuff in this way.

Just clean it with an abrasive pad of some sort. I usually use a scotchbrite type thing. No chemicals are needed.

As for the islands, get some 0.8mm thick single sided FR4 PCB and some good scissors and cut it into strips. Then glue down with superglue. Do not use hot glue - it'll melt the moment you solder anything!

As for cutting the main FR4 substrate I use the following tools:

1. Scribe for marking it (copper side)
2. Metal rule for measuring (duh)
3. Engineers square for angles
4. Aviation shears for cutting it.

The latter go through the stuff like butter and makes very accurate cuts but requires some practice.

Here's a pile of stuff I made recently as an example of technique:



Try and build bits of circuits in modules, then test them, then assemble them later. Involves less pain then.

I call my technique "manflattan" as it's manhattan style but flat because I bloody hate all those excess bits of lead sticking up plus it's horrid at VHF and above.
wilfred:
What determines when a PCB might be a better option? Some of those circuits look pretty complex and not less work than etching a PCB. I'm guessing a solid ground plane factors in here somewhere.
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