Going cross-eyed trying to map SMD PCBs

[lordvader88]

For instance lately I'm mapping out a 2"x2" doubled sided PCB with plenty of BJTs, 2 ICs, voltage reference ICs, etc.

I'm using a 30x loupe and DMM, it's like entering some mini-model/road map. Getting tiring and boring after a while tho.

It would quicker to take a nice photo, then take it all off with the hotair gun, then photo the bare PCB, and put it back together.

I'm just doing this for fun/experience.

[CJay]

Take photos of both sides, print them out *large*.

Any connections you can't work out quickly from the pics, meter out.

A graphics package will help as you can flood fill tracks or PCB, alter contrast, change colour depth etc to make tracks stand out (though some PCB coatings make it damn difficult)

Helps if you can identify ICs, devices etc. as there's only so many ways you can connect the majority of non programmable devices and you can quickly identify then ignore power rails until you decide to make a new PCB.

If you can sacrifice a board then as you say, stripping the board is very helpful, you can, after careful photography, then sand it lightly to remove solder masks and expose tracks, vias etc. which makes it much easier to trace out.

[Buriedcode]

You could always take (large, high res) photos of both sides of the board - trying to get the image the same size, then mirror the bottom, make both images transparent transparent and add them together in your preferred photo/image editing software - I used gimp for this.  As CJay suggested - enhancing the contrast of the tracks will help as well.  I've done this on a number of newer guitar pedals to trace out the schem - it really does help.

[lordvader88]

Yeah I have to get a working camera and make a stand. And some day soon a USB microscope.

There's no pictures on the net for this pcb

[Buriedcode]

Even a phone camera will do.  As long as you hold it roughly the same height above a surface, you can scale it in software - I've only done it without a stand and it works.

[TERRA Operative]

The 'Office Lens' smart phone app is great for taking photos of stuff like this.
It detects the edges and automatically corrects the image to be a perfect square.

I use it all the time for takung screenshots of things without a print screen button. Works great.