PC Board Etch on Plexi

[Sillydipstixs18]

Have you seen that "Make your own Printed Circuit board" kit at radio shack? I bought one years ago and you use a magic marker to draw the lines on the board, then you soak the board in the brown liquid for about and hour if i remeber correctly. and when you removed it, the liquid desolves the magic marker and leave the conductive tracing on the board and there you have it. well my question is, if i had a plexi glass lid and i mount a swith to it. could i draw the two lines (picture the lines being the two wires used to connect a switch) on the plexi and have it work like a printed circuit board?

[hakhawk]

not with the pen you're talking about: http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st...uct/View/N5181
that only stops the copper on the board from dissolving, but you can get a conductive pen that draws silver based traces on anything and its solderable at low temps, see here: http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st...uct/View/N5184

[gizmomkr]

I would also recomend you try an ART Supply store. Look in the Stained Glass section.
There is a product widley used in stained glass - Its a thin layer of copper foil with sticky tape on the back. I think its about 10mm and is sold on spools. Solder holds to it very well. The same product is or was used for alarm systems, but I dont think I have seen it lately - The foil is applied around the edge of a window - forming one large loop and connected to the alarm panel- If the window is broken, the foil will tear, triggering the alarm.

[Sillydipstixs18]

So I ordered the pen from that site and i cant wait to see if it works on glass. but whats the point if i dont have a button to make the connection between the two etched lines. ive searched the mp3car forums and other sites for a "membrane" type switch......Preferable clear? any ideas?



Thanx

[tj!2k4]

or you could've just gone to the auto parts store and got a window defroster repair kit. i use that all the time to bridge solder points on Xboxes to make the TSOP writeable..

[Escalade182]

$32 for a pen!

[Sillydipstixs18]

$32 for a pen!

I had a friend order it for me while i was at work and didnt even think that it was that much. but is there a way to make a traslucent button?

[aoLhaTer]

You would still need wire to go from the switches contacts to the surface of the plexi though
Albeit a short amount

[thanatos106]

Back in the days we used nail polish to draw the lines...

Thanatos.

[Sillydipstixs18]

I was going to drill a small hole halfway through the thickness of the glass, and glue in a small metal pin, like on a mother board for fans and such,and draw or solder the lines up to and on the metal pen.