Homebrew PCBs

On May 14, 2006, at 4:23 PM, Christopher Hart wrote:

> I'm actually working on HP Black inks right now.(The color inks  
> just run,
> regardless how I dry/cure them) I just realized I have an old  
> Deskjet 340
> sitting around, that already has a straight paper path. I am currently
> fighting a battle with the inks beading up on the copper, even  
> though my
> initial tests on aluminum worked without any problems. My next  
> attempt will
> be using a hair dryer (mild hot air gun) to warm the board during  
> printing,
> and get the inks to dry quicker, hopefully as they hit the copper.

I don't know if it's a practical suggestion, but there are compounds  
now used for emergency bandages.

You slap one of these on a fast-bleeding wound, and the chemical  
additive absorbs the blood instantly, giving off some heat.

This causes the wound to clot immediately.


I was just wondering if it would be possible to deposit a coating of  
these crystals on a PCB so that ink would dry faster.

Thus the ink would set much faster.   As long as the thin film wasn't  
resistant to etchant, it might expedite the process.