[StavrosK]

> I bet many people will say that today's circuit boards are so cheap and making one at home is just too troublesome

I've heard this a lot and can never understand it. It's like saying "why use a 3D printer when you can get the same thing for $50 or $10 and a month of waiting?". Because sometimes I want a good-enough thing for cheap now, not a perfect thing for expensive later.

[danhor]

The reason is that ordering PCBs take ~2 weeks and cost 6$, where any time invested in making them yourself is more expensive. Additionally a 3D printer is much less of a hassle to use (basically level the bed, start the print and wait) than etching PCBs.

The only reason for doing them yourself are (if you already have all the required things):

- Getting them really quick (~hours)

- Getting them somewhat quick (saving on shipping, around 30$)

- Wanting to

With ~everyone using smd components today, soldermask is also pretty much a must-have which makes doing it yourself even more annoying.

In comparison to 15 years ago, where doing it yourself was the only option, it's really understandable that a lot of people just don't anymore.

[StavrosK]

Yes, exactly. I always want them really quick, because I'm in the middle of a hacky build I'll always make one of. Same for ~all my maker friends, it sucks to leave a build right in the height of motivation to wait for PCBs, so most of them use perfboards or similar ugly hacks. CNCed PCBs would be a great improvement.

[mousepilot]

I had a buddy try to etch a pc board once. He used a disposeable aluminum tray to do the etching in. Can you guess how it went?