Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Mycroft2152 <mycroft2152@...> wrote:
>
> Steve,
> 
> Your numbers are a little high. Laser printers $80,
> laminators $30. Irons less. Mastercard ;)
> 
> Some people with use a readily availible photocopier
> -- zero dollars.

Your point? We should all drop every other method because it might
cost some money to set it up and use photocopiers and clothes irons?
 
> Homebrew-pcbs is a specialized group of very vocal (or
> whatever the term for posters is) people that are well
> beyond the ordindary joe. Sometimes, we, myself
> included, forget our roots and have our heads in the
> clouds. 

The "ordinary joe" isn't likely to be making projects from scratch.
Someone coming from kit building should be learning more, and is
likely to be looking for a challenge. Besides, if some of us start
using direct inkjet printing, how does that stop the "ordinary joe"
from using toner transfer, or photo exposure, or anything else?

> If $100 is very cheap, then why haven't you yet
> purchased a R220 which lists for $100 and can be
> purchased (refurbished) from EPSOn directly for $71
> with shipping included? Don't forget the ink
> settlement which drops the cost considerably.

I have an R200, thanks. Bought it from someone who got it free with a
camera, cost me $60 unopened box. After I use up the OEM dye ink, the
plan has always been to install MIS pigmented ink in it, specifically
for archival photo printing.

But what is your point? If I didn't do it already, I'm not allowed to
suggest it?

As it happens, I did some tests from an Epson 5000 loaded with another
type of MIS pigmented ink. I think my problem may have been not
cooking the ink at high enough temp. I noticed a couple of people
saying that the yellow ink darkened, I didn't cook mine high enough to
darken the ink and it ran. Or it may have been that the exact ink, MIS
PRO, is required.

> You missed the point about the average joe. He is not
> going out and spending his $$$ on a set up just for
> making pcbs. Again, I'm talking about the average guy
> maybe making a few boards a month. he'll buy a refill
> ink kit, but not a continuous feed kit, to save money
> overall.

Sure, and I mentioned refill cartridges. But why would the "average
joe" who's making only a few boards a month spend -anything- on making
them if he is that broke or concerned about money?

> Yes there are a few dedicated souls who for their own
> purposes will spend some extra $$$ just to be able to
> make a pcb...

Again, what is your point? That they shouldn't be allowed, because
"average joe" can't or doesn't want to?

Will you require all those members doing THP to stop, because Average
Joe can't to THP?

> The KISS principle does reign.

I thought a modified CD tray -was- KISS. Others have asked the
question about selecting which color is printed, I think one
suggestion is to export to a raster image and modify the color in your
favorite image editor before printing. Since I think it's likely we
have a few programmers here, I mentioned the option of a custom
driver, someone else mentioned a way to "fool" the printer that at
least works on the Epson Photo 900. As I said, a custom ICC profile
just for PCB printing could also do the job where it comes to which
ink is printed.

> I'm glad you're volunteering to write these drivers.

No need to cop an attitude.

If you aren't interested in direct inkjet resist printing, then don't
do it. Something new like this is going to get a lot of traffic on the
list until it gets "perfected". Just delete the threads 'til then
instead of reading them.

Steve Greenfield