A LITERATURE REVIEW ON LOW-COST CNC MACHINES FOR PCB PROTOTYPING: MARKER-BASED PRINTING APPROACHES

Abstract

The need for cost-effective and rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards (PCBs) has grown significantly in recent years, especially among hobbyists, engineers, and small businesses. Traditional PCB fabrication methods such as chemical etching and photolithography are not well-suited for small-scale production due to their high costs and complex processes. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of low-cost CNC machine-based approaches for PCB prototyping, specifically focusing on marker-based printing techniques. These methods, which use CNC plotters equipped with conductive ink to draw PCB layouts directly onto copper substrates, offer an accessible alternative to traditional PCB manufacturing. This review highlights the principles behind CNC-based PCB fabrication, examines key advancements in marker-based printing, and discusses the advantages, challenges, and future research directions for this technology.