Homebrew PCBs

I would worry a lot about the drum getting scratched.
The copper would just have to get bent up very
slightly on an edge and you'd ruin the expensive drum.

A friend of mine used to use a laser printer to print
directly on PCB. It was some huge old thing that had a
board straight paper path. He very thoroughly deburred
the edges first.

How about those wax thermal/resin printers that print
right onto CDs? You'd only need a single color. You'd
have to either make your PCB the size and shape of a
CD or make a carrier.

Or maybe there is a market for a modified CD printer
like this. Make sure you get one that is not inkjet
and does not require special coatings. I found one for
about $2500 that is wax thermal ribbon and does not
require coated CDs. It is called the Primera Inscripta
and it is 610x305 dpi and does a CD in 5 to 10
seconds. I know, not 600dpi which is what common
wisdom says your laser printer should be for toner
transfer, but this way you don't have the transfer
step that causes lines to mush out.

It is only two colors (at once) but who cares? You
only need one color, and you can flip it over and
print the component layout.

Docs say you can take it out of the case and fit it in
a drive bay, so you could do PCB printing with zero
desktop space!

OK, who's gonna by me one to try this out? ;')

http://www.verbatim.com.au/Hardware/cdprinters/inscripta.html

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cdrsavings/primin2colth.html

http://www.primeratechnology.com/inscripta/features.html

Here it is for only $2075!

http://www.cddimensions.com/accessories/pri-56200.asp

Y'know, you all missed my birthday, but Christmas is
coming up soon... :'>

Steve Greenfield

--- victor Faria <victorf@...> wrote:
> Hello to all!!!
> I have asked this question on the picbasic list but
> no answers.
> a couple of thought but !!!!
> now I ask all of you on the homebrew board.
> instead of transfers from laser printer to copper.
> how about just buying a thin copper sheet say 3mil
> or so.
> then run the copper through the laser printer and
> print your art work.
> once that's done laminate the copper to a fiberglass
> board.
> then etch as normal.
> would this work????
> does anyone see any problems with this?
> or the question should be will the laser printer
> print to copper sheeting??
> thank you
> regards 
> Victor Faria


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