A “Printed Circuit Board or PCB” for short, is the material used as a platform where the electronic components are embedded.
But when it is “bare”, it means that the PCB is yet to be etched or the patterns aren’t yet made.
The board is simply a plain layer of copper laminated on a thick layer of non-conductive material. What I am referring here is what they call as the “single-sided PCB board”.
The board is simply a plain layer of copper laminated on a thick layer of non-conductive material. What I am referring here is what they call as the “single-sided PCB board”.
It’s because there is a “double-sided PCB board”.
A double-sided PCB has its one side coated with copper so as the other opposite side. But, in between them is a sheet of layer material that is a non-conductive substrate.
Anyway, the most common PCB used by students for their projects so as enthusiasts is the single-sided only. It’s because it is a lot easier to understand the layout of the circuit on this manner.
When you are going to buy a bare PCB board especially online, there is a standard size. You can’t actually buy the specific size that you only need.
The supplier where I am buying mine has the size of 70 x 100 x 15mm with a thickness of 15mm.
You can actually use the entire standard size panel of the PCB that you bought and there is nothing wrong to that.
A double-sided PCB has its one side coated with copper so as the other opposite side. But, in between them is a sheet of layer material that is a non-conductive substrate.
Anyway, the most common PCB used by students for their projects so as enthusiasts is the single-sided only. It’s because it is a lot easier to understand the layout of the circuit on this manner.
Why you need to cut your Bare PCB Board?
When you are going to buy a bare PCB board especially online, there is a standard size. You can’t actually buy the specific size that you only need.
The supplier where I am buying mine has the size of 70 x 100 x 15mm with a thickness of 15mm.
You can actually use the entire standard size panel of the PCB that you bought and there is nothing wrong to that.
However, cutting just the appropriate size that you need will do you much better at improving your circuit design skill.
In school, particularly students who are taking up Electronic subjects, they are trained by their instructors to use the least possible size of PCB boards on their projects.
The most troubling part of working on a bare PCB is etching the circuit diagram or blueprint that you designed.
In school, particularly students who are taking up Electronic subjects, they are trained by their instructors to use the least possible size of PCB boards on their projects.
Etching a Bare PCB Board
The most troubling part of working on a bare PCB is etching the circuit diagram or blueprint that you designed.
If this is your first-time to do it then you have a huge chance of committing a mistake.
In most cases, the common error that usually happen is that, there are lines that got cut or shorted with one another.
Anyway, there are now many methods on how you can achieve a properly etched PCB.
In most cases, the common error that usually happen is that, there are lines that got cut or shorted with one another.
Anyway, there are now many methods on how you can achieve a properly etched PCB.
But for beginners especially students, they are required to use a copper dissolving chemical known as, “Ferric Chloride”.
If you do not like etching your PCB then you might want to check out the “Prototype Universal Circuit Board”.
Prototype Universal Circuit Board
If you do not like etching your PCB then you might want to check out the “Prototype Universal Circuit Board”.
Unlike the PCB that we discussed above, universal board are composed of ready-made copper slots with mounting holes.
All you have to do is to mount your electronic components on the universal board and use wirings to connect them all through a soldering process.
Although, the use of prototype boards is now obsolete because it has been replaced by “breadboards”.
Conclusion
Before you start using a PCB board on your project, I highly recommend that you should use a prototype board or much even better, a breadboard. This is to ensure that your circuit design is properly working.
If you got your circuit design to work, then that will be the time that you can finally etch it on a PCB board.
And finally, complete your project by properly embedding on the board all the necessary electronic components.
All you have to do is to mount your electronic components on the universal board and use wirings to connect them all through a soldering process.
Although, the use of prototype boards is now obsolete because it has been replaced by “breadboards”.
Conclusion
Before you start using a PCB board on your project, I highly recommend that you should use a prototype board or much even better, a breadboard. This is to ensure that your circuit design is properly working.
If you got your circuit design to work, then that will be the time that you can finally etch it on a PCB board.
And finally, complete your project by properly embedding on the board all the necessary electronic components.
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