Prototype and Short-Run Printed Circuit Board Creation

This report describes the knowledge and experience developed within this directorate over the past several months in the fabrication of Printed Circuit Board PCB techniques. Due to the limited quantity of identical, custom-made PCBs needed for use in the laboratory, it is both cost-effective and less time-consuming to fabricate PCBs in-house, than to employ an outside supplier. The combination of equipment and techniques permits the fabrication of single and short-run PCBs of up to 8 by 10 inches, with little problem. The system described here has been in place for about two years after being developed over a longer period. As with any technique-dependent process, experience and learning will contribute to better quality in the product. However, this set of equipment and the techniques described should yield reasonable results very quickly after the start of operation. Continuing improvement of these techniques is taking place, but there now exists a capability for the creation of small quantities of PCBs sufficient for laboratory uses. The design techniques used are directly useful for the creation of materials required by an outside jobber for producing large quantities of PCBs, should that be required.