Homebrew PCBs

$85 for a dozen boards is a bit high. I don't know where you live, but the
least expensive is to take a pdf file of your board toa local quick print
shop. I have a couple of laser pinters at home,but recently, I decided to
run a trial. at a local STAPLES office supply store.

I had them print the pcb pdf on 3 types of paper: regular, matte, and
glossy. The print quality was excellent, very dark. The total cost was 48
cents. I ran all three a the same time on the same pcb. The STAPLES glossy
was by far the best and easiet to remove.

It seems less convenient to bring it to a print shop, but it made me more
careful in the design (no dumb mistakes).

Myc


On Jan 7, 2008 1:30 AM, bighillentry <bighillentry@...> wrote:

>   Yes your right,that's what I was thinking also.
> It says that the Box contents are :
>
> (1) The printer
> (2) Black return program cartridge 1,500 pages* all
> (3) Cyan " " " 1,500 pages* Based on 5% coverage
> (4) Magenta " " " 1,500 pages*
> (5) Yellow " " " 1,500 pages*
> (6)other items I won't list.
>
> I likely will only need approx. a dozen or less boards. At the aboves
> 5% coverage per cartridge I think it should be enough toner.
>
> For color same amount for Decaling the project cases.
>
> Question: Could I just replace the black toner cartridge when it is
> empty. Will the printer sill work for black with out the color
> ones.I'm thinking yes, but not sure.
>
> I already have a good injet printer for other uses so I only need
> the above one for printed circuit boards and project case Decals.
>
> $85 for a dozen or so boards sounds to me, may be o.k. What's your
> thoughts on this.
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> allie
>
>
> > A color laser printer for $85 sounds like a good deal on the
> surface.but I
> > would consider it to be a disposable printer, After the first set
> > ofcartirdiges are used up then it is time to throw it away.
> Repalcement
> > laser cartidgesare ~$90 each for the 4 cartidges. Also the
> cartidges
> > provided with the printer are usually just "starter" cartridges and
> only
> > partialy filled. The manufacturers make money on the ink /t oner,
> not on the
> > printer itself.
> >
> > On 05 Jan 2008 23:15:04 -0500, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > "bighillentry" <bighillentry@... <bighillentry%40yahoo.com>>
> writes:
> > > > How long can you not use the printer before the toner drys same
> as
> > >
> > > Toner is dry plastic powder, it won't "dry up" like an inkjet
> will.
> > >
> > > > How long can you leave the toner on the paper before
> transfering to the
> > > > copper boards.Is there a time fame.
> > >
> > > I don't think there's a limit. It depends on how long you can keep
> > > the paper around without (1) damaging the toner, or (2) touching
> it
> > > and getting finger oil on it.
> > >
> > > There's probably some limit based on how long the paper will hold
> onto
> > > its humidity before the fibers again become brittle (assuming you
> > > humidify your paper before use, like I do), but I don't know how
> that
> > > will affect results. Mostly it affects getting toner ONTO the
> paper,
> > > not off of it.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
> 
>


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