Thread: DIY Electro-etcher..

OK.. so, I know I said I was probably gonna buy one... but..this was just too easy..

Burnt out computer power supply: Free
18VAC 1200mA AC Adapter (wall wart): Free (scavenged)
24VDC 1500mA laptop power supply: Free (scavenged)
Speaker terminal: $4.20 (Radioshack)
2-way switch (on-off-on) $3.80 (Radioshack
wire from some old computer AC cords Free (scavenged)

Total Cost: $8.00

I stripped out all the internals of the old computer power supply, and just used the 120V AC connector to wire up the two AC adapters. The outputs are soldered onto a simple switch, and I double sided taped down the AC adapters inside the box so as to make sure they don't rattle around. It worked great.

So, right now, I only have 24VDC and 18VAC... I originally had a 12VDC as well hooked up, with a second switch, but, I musta fried the adapter or it just went bad on me, because it quit working, but, I can always add it later if I find the 24VDC to be too strong. I don't think it will be a problem though, as 24VDC @ 1.5A is only 36W..and most commercial etchers go to 72W I believe.


I do have a couple questions though -- I need to solder copper wire to a small plate of stainless steel to use as the etch block.. Obviously solder doesn't stick to the stainless. What can I use to solder that wire to that steel? Does anyone know if JB Weld conducts electricity? I wonder if I could just epoxy it to the block with the copper frayed between the two surfaces.. so long as the copper was hitting the steel, I imagine it'd work..... any suggestions? You can see i have a nice piece of cocobolo for my "handle" on the block already