Homebrew PCBs

Do you know what a GERBER machine is? It is used to
make a photo mask. The GERBER is a laser photo
plotter.

I worked on the original at Dickson Eletronics in
Scottsdale in 1969.

Bob Macklin
Seattle, Wa.

--- DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:

> 
> I seem to be seeing a trend here, that regardless of
> the techniques
> used, with care one can get to 6/6 rules.  How do we
> get past that?
> It must be possible in theory, as the big fabs do
> it.
> 
> My laser printer does 1.3 mil "lines" (600dpi) but
> the quality isn't
> good enough to do so reliably (fuzzy edges); I need
> at least 3-4
> pixels across to get good definition with TT.
> 
> I think the various elements are:
> 
> * Getting a print with crisp edges at fine
> resolutions.
> 
> * Getting that print onto the board as etch resist.
> 
> * Consistent etching with little side-etch.
> 
> * Thinner copper?
> 
> Does anyone get 5/5 or better, reliably, with home
> etch?  If so, how?
> 
> Random thoughts:
> 
> Would a 1200 dpi laser printer give better edges, or
> just smoother
> curves?  Is there a paper trick to keeping the toner
> were it's
> supposed to be?
> 
> I read one home fabber printed their TT at a 45
> degree angle to get
> more consistent results.
> 
> Photo: Inkjets can do 1440 and sometimes 2880 dpi,
> what limits those
> to 6/6?  Would having the UV source further away
> from the board result
> in better edges?  What about the thickness of the
> photomask?
> 
> What about 1/4 oz copper?  I usually use 1/2 oz, and
> I haven't seen
> 1/4 oz in my usual places.
> 
> Injets: Anyone try writing a custom print driver
> that forces all the
> colors to be used, overlapping, making a nice thick
> print?  I've tried
> doing that with my color laser, but I haven't found
> the command to
> turn off the "smarter than the user" mode.
> 
> 
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> Links, Files, and Photos:
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> 
> 
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> 
> 
>