1. a Printed Circuit Board
Building
a Printed Circuit Board
(PCB)
Khansaa Almansor

2. Step -1-
Find a simple electronic circuit that you can simulate and build.

3. Step -2- Simulate the circuit to make sure it works fine.
Show the measurements where they are needed.

4. Step -3-
Build the circuit on breadboard to make sure it works fine in real life.

5. Step -4-
Draw the schematic and the wiring diagram of the electronic circuit.
Schematics are symbolic representations of complete circuits
Wiring diagrams, illustrate the physical connections, or wiring between components.
Schematic
Schematic
Wiring Diagram
Wiring Diagram

6. Step -5-
Draw the wiring diagram of the electronic circuit on a copper clad board (Use regular black permanent marker) .
Rub the copper side of the PCB using a steel wool or an abrasive sponge scrubs. This removes the top oxide layer of the copper.
Make sure the lines are solid and thick enough to keep the copper lines on when you etch the PCB as in the next step.

7. Step -6- Etch the copper clad board using the ferric chloride liquid.
1- Place the copper clad board into the solution for approximately 20 minutes or until all the copper has removed around the wiring diagram that has drawn.
Do not touch the solution. Always use gloves and tools like tweezers or plier.
Use a plastic container. Metallic container might interact with the ferric chloride.
Heating up the solution would help in accelerating the process. For safe and efficient etching always use at the optimum temperature of approximately 45ºC.
Before taking the PCB off from the solution, make sure that the whole copper layer has been dissolved except what is under the marked lines.
* You can use vinegar for etching process. To do so make your own research before you start the process.

8. Step -6-
Etch the copper clad board using the ferric chloride liquid.
2- Once the whole copper layer that is around the designed circuit is completely removed, take off the PCB from the solution then rinse it with water.
3- Use Acetone (nail polish remover) or Alcohol to whip off the ink of the lines those are still on the PCB.
CAUTION: 
Always use gloves while touching the PCB board with the solution.
The solution must not be put down the drain because of residual copper ions left in it. To make it safe for disposal, you can add sodium carbonate (washing soda) or sodium hydroxide to it to neutralize it, until the pH value goes up to between 7.0 and 8.0, testing it with indicator paper. Copper will be deposited as a sludge. Allow the sludge to settle, pour off the liquid, further dilute it with water and then it can be poured down the drain. Collect the sludge in plastic bags and dispose of it as required by your local waste authority.*
Do NOT Pour the solution down the drain or in the sink it will eat up the metallic pipes.
* MG Chemicals.

9. Step -7-
Use a drill to make terminals' holes where the leads of the electronic components would be placed.
Make sure to align the drill bit a 90 degree on the PCB surface where exactly in the center of the terminal circle.
The hole size is around 0.6mm to 0.8mm that is 0.025“ to 0.032“ depends on the component leads size. However, 0.7 mm drill bit size will produce 0.6 mm final hole size.

10. Step -8-
Solder the electronic components.

11. Front side (Components side)
Result !
Schematic
Wiring Diagram
Back side
(Soldering side)
Front side (Components side)

12. Components are soldered Backward (Soldering side)
Inspection
Components are soldered Backward (Soldering side)

13. Etching process is incomplete
Inspection
Etching process is incomplete

14. Inspection
1- Excessive etching dissolved some of the lines of the required wiring diagram.
2- Ink was not cleaned.
3- Excessive heat during soldering process burned the board surface.

15. Inspection
Lines of the wiring diagram were too thin which caused a lose in conductors during the etching process.

16. Inspection
Good Sample

17. Good Sample (Computer-Based Wiring Diagram)
Inspection
Good Sample (Computer-Based Wiring Diagram)

18. Inspection
Good Sample

19. Inspection
Good Sample

20. Inspection
Good Sample