Protel PCB Design is still in use, better than ever before although it is currently known as Altium Designer. Protel has been used for PCB design has been used in some companies across the globe as well as in universities for teaching circuit design and in homes for the hobbyist.
The Protel made history as the first PCB design tools created for the personal computer. Starting with Protel, Altium has over 30 years of experience in creating cutting-edge design software. Today that experience has resulted in the best PCB design tools available on the market, Altium Designer.
However, it has been rebuilt from the ground up. Altium Designer is now structured on a 64-bit multithreading system’s architecture, and it’s ready to put its power to operate for you. Therefore, making use of Protel PCB by Altium can be the most pioneering and innovative tools that enhance your home operations. The following are some of the ways to make PCB Design for your home use:
Step 1: Take a printout of circuit board layout
Take a printout of your PCB layout using a laser printer and the A4 photo and paper/glossy paper. Take note of the following points:
- You ought to take the mirror printout.
- Select the output in black both from the PCB design software and the printer driver settings.
- Ensure that the printout is made on the glossy side of the paper
Step 2: Cut the Copper Plate for the Circuit Board
Cut the copper board according to the size of the layout using a hacksaw or a cutter. Then rub the copper side of the PCB using steel wool or abrasive sponge scrubs. This removes the top oxide layer of copper that forms a protective layer. Sanded surfaces also allow the image from the paper to stick better.
Step 3: Transfer the PCB print onto the copper plate
Method 1: Iron on Glossy Paper Method (For Complex Circuits)
Transfer the printed image (taken from a laser printer) from the photo paper to the board. Make sure to flip top layer horizontally. Put the copper surface of the board on the printed layout. Ensure that the board is aligned correctly along the borders of the printed layout and use tape to hold the board and the printed paper in the correct position.
Method 2: Circuit by Hand on PCB (For Simple and Small Circuits)
Using the circuit for reference, draw a basic sketch on the copper plate with a pencil. Once your sketch looks good, trace it over with a permanent black marker.
Step 4: Iron the Circuit from the paper onto the PCB Plate
After printing on glossy paper, we iron its image side down to the copper side, then heat up the electric iron to the maximum temperature.
Put the board and photo paper arrangement on a clean wooden table with the back of the photo paper facing you.
Using pliers or spatula, hold one end and keep it steady. Then put the hot iron on the other end for about 10 seconds. Then iron the photo paper, applying a little pressure for 5 to 15 minutes.
The heat from the iron transfers the ink printed on the glossy paper to the copper plate. After that, etch the plate and finally cleaning, disposal, and the final touches for the circuit board.
