Making your own button PCBs with copper tape and protoboard!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 10:05 am
I see a lot of people asking about how to create a button PCB using copper tape, but not a lot of guides on how to do so. I wouldn't call this a guide, so much as what I did that worked for me.
First, I picked up some 1.5" x 1.25" protoboard from a local shop. I got ones where none of the pads are connected by default:
Next, I laid the conductive pad on it and traced around it.
Then cut the board along your traces. Make sure to leave a little room on all sides for gluing it on later. Put your conductive pad back on the side WITHOUT the pads, and flip the whole thing over. Using a sharpie, mark a spot in between 4 pads like so:
0 - copper pad
* - Sharpie mark
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
0* 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0
0* 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
Now we can add the copper tape. You can use whatever pattern works for you, but I like the one I've come up with. It uses a common ground wire for all the buttons reducing my wire count. You're going to want to make sure there is a small gap between your pieces of tape so as not to bridge any connections.
Once you're done, it's time to solder! Strip your wires and put them up through a hole not covered by tape, but close to the piece to solder onto.
Good luck and happy building!!
First, I picked up some 1.5" x 1.25" protoboard from a local shop. I got ones where none of the pads are connected by default:
SpoilerShow

SpoilerShow
0 - copper pad
* - Sharpie mark
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
0* 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0
0* 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0
Now we can add the copper tape. You can use whatever pattern works for you, but I like the one I've come up with. It uses a common ground wire for all the buttons reducing my wire count. You're going to want to make sure there is a small gap between your pieces of tape so as not to bridge any connections.
PatternShow
Taped BoardShow
SpoilerShow