PCB as-built

I used to just stick them on the scanner and print out a b&w enlarged picture of the component side. Then, as I include components on my circuit diagram, I dotted them on the picture. The enlarged bit helps as I can then read the chip labels or the board notation. B&W is not good for reading resistor/capacitor colour coding!

But recently I have been doing the opposite - copy the track side on the printer and work from the printed copy whilst looking at the component side. I then "colour in" the tracks that I have accounted for.

Both have their pros and cons. Possibly the former is better with high component density and the latter better where an enlarged track is easier to follow.

Thanks Sue for that idea. The scanner is sitting right here and I didn't think of it. Much easier than either a mirror or fussing with a digital camera.

Chuck

I feel fer ya!

Pop

Scan both sides and combine the images with an alpha value. If you digitally tint one side a different color, you should be able to tell what's on bottom and what's on top.

Thanks - light tables are a handy thing. Used to use them alot in land surveying to compare maps to each other.

Cool, I was sorta wondering about that. It'll be fun to try.

Get some transparent material (e.g. mylar) and cut it to size and secure it to the solder side of the PCB. Then use a marker (permanent or possibly dry erase) to copy the copper traces. To get the view of the solder side from the component side, simply turn over the transparency. The same can be done for the component side. Also, inkjet printers will print on mylar (not sure about laser jet), so this process could be combined with the digital photo method, just make sure you work on a 1:1 scale.

Mr. M

Most lasers will work well on mylar; especially transparencies.

Pop