PCB Pens

[TB Roye]

I bought two PCB Blanks from a fellow on the IAP web site. They are made from Computer, Video, Sound and Mother boards and cards. Some how he gets the thin top layer of the board off and removes the big stuff raps around the pen tube and casts in Acrylic. You have to becareful and leave the blank fat so as not to get into the wire and other pieces. I tappered the end down to the bushings. The pictures aren't the best as I haven't taken any for a while. I used the mandrelless method with the two bushings. The kit is a Sierra Vista by Brea and is a little bigger than the normal Sierra. Using the Manddrelless method I find the blank wood or plastic come out smooth enough that I don't have to do much sanding. I used Micro Mesh to 12000 and some Huts plastic polish to finish them. The blue pen took 3 tries to get the blank to decent size and I will be turning the green blank down to the same size as the blue one. Also I will be turning the center line to the back of the pen on the green one. Brea has come out with a PCB pen get which stirred up a big discussion on the IAP site. I think Brea's is just a picture and not an actual board and will all be the same while the home made blanks will each be different. Coments are welcome

Tom

[LCHIEN]

I bought two PCB Blanks from a fellow on the IAP web site. They are made from Computer, Video, Sound and Mother boards and cards. Some how he gets the thin top layer of the board off and removes the big stuff raps around the pen tube and casts in Acrylic. You have to becareful and leave the blank fat so as not to get into the wire and other pieces. I tappered the end down to the bushings. The pictures aren't the best as I haven't taken any for a while. I used the mandrelless method with the two bushings. The kit is a Sierra Vista by Brea and is a little bigger than the normal Sierra. Using the Manddrelless method I find the blank wood or plastic come out smooth enough that I don't have to do much sanding. I used Micro Mesh to 12000 and some Huts plastic polish to finish them. The blue pen took 3 tries to get the blank to decent size and I will be turning the green blank down to the same size as the blue one. Also I will be turning the center line to the back of the pen on the green one. Brea has come out with a PCB pen get which stirred up a big discussion on the IAP site. I think Brea's is just a picture and not an actual board and will all be the same while the home made blanks will each be different. Coments are welcome

Tom

A lot of complex printed circuit boards are made with multiple layers to allow more back and forth traces to cross. and each layer is only around 4 to 7 mils thick (.004 to .007") They probably got the thin layers from rejects that didn't make the stack up which, when done is usually .062 to .093" thick.

Interesting use of the materials! PCB patterns are often works of art, in a way.

[TB Roye]

Loring

According to the guy who makes these, his are taken from boards that are on the way to the landfill. The man who originated the idea will not sell them as he feels it is a environmental and health and saftey issue. I think once they have be cast in resin the should be pretty safe. The danger as I see it and have been told is in the stripping of the boards and getting them ready for casting. The guy who runs the neighborhood computer store wants some tp sell but my conact can only make about 25 a week and sell all he makes. They are are the pricey side so I can't afford to by to many at one time.


Tom

[Whaler]

Great looking pens Tom, that's a nifty idea.