PCB FORGE

PCB Forge

Turn any PCB layout into a 3D-printable mold. No etching, no chemicals.

How it works:

1. Design your PCB in any vector editor. Export as SVG — traces as filled shapes, holes as circles.
2. Drop the SVG into PCB Forge. Adjust trace depth, clearance, ridge height, and spike size.
3. Export the base and companion as STL files. Print both.
4. Stick copper tape onto the base. Use the kind with conductive adhesive so overlapping pieces count as one surface.
5. Press the companion mold on top — it pushes the copper into the recessed traces.
6. Sand the ridges. The exposed copper files off. The copper inside the channels stays. Your traces are now electrically isolated. Solder and go.
7. Optional step, you can remove the extra copper tape between the steps. You might also like to use an alcohol-soaked q-tip to remove any plastic dust/ copper tape glue that sticks inside the traces. but it makes no difference to conductivity.

Inspired by QZW Labs' raised-PCB method.

Download the test.svg to try it (it's just my custom circuit to connect 4x4 cherry switches to an arduino nano)