[TML] Molding Ships

[Bruce Johnson]

On Sep 29, 2007, at 6:13 PM, shadow at shadowgard.com wrote:

>
> Actually, printed circuit boards could have been made well before
> then. The modern "photo resist" tricks aren't necessary.
>
> I did my first board by using a brush to paint on the resist where I
> wanted it. For mass production, a stencil and roller will work just
> fine.

A printing press would work just fine. <http://www.handpress.org/>  
see the platen jobber.

> I think the hardest part is getting the copper-clad board.
>

Suitable materials were invented pretty early. I'd bet laquerware  
would suffice, shellac mixed with wood flour was being used to mold  
items as early as the 1850's. <http://www.bpf.co.uk/bpfindustry/ 
History_of_Plastics.cfm>

Gluing the metal to the substrate is old tech.

All said, making the things to solder ON to your 19th century  
circuitboard would be rather lacking...:-) much simpler in those days  
to use a breadboard anyway, since at best you're going to be using  
discrete tubes and other components.



-- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs