Homebrew PCBs

Are you using a laminator or iron?

Chuck



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alexandre Guimar\ufffdes" <listas@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:18 PM
Subject: RES: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers


> Hi,
>
>
> I am using Pulsar paper, green film, laminator and boards... Results
> are perfect with 6mils traces and 6mils spacing. It is fast and easy, I 
> just
> followed their instructions... Nothing fancy or hard !
>
> Best Regards,
> Alexandre Guimaraes
>
>
>
> -----Mensagem original-----
> De: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] 
> Em
> nome de Chuck Kelsey
> Enviada em: segunda-feira, 11 de fevereiro de 2008 20:51
> Para: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Assunto: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers
>
> Thanks guys for all the tips.
>
> Is anyone doing toner transfers and consistently getting perfect results?
> Maybe my expectations are too high and I'll have to live with some "hand
> drawn" missing traces.
>
> My last attempt was a 4x6" board that actually had 6 circuit boards on it
> that I'll cut apart. Out of the 6, there was only
> 1 with no flaws and 2 with a minor flaw.
>
> Chuck
> WB2EDV
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ben Buxton" <bb@...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 11:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers
>
>
>>
>> I had this problem initially where some toner would still lift off the
>> cpper with the paper.
>>
>> The solution I have found is novel, but works surprisingly well - in
>> fact I can now reliably transfer and etch to smaller than SOIC traces.
>>
>> All I do is let the board + paper soak for a few minutes after the
>> initial 10 or so laminator passes. Then, whilst the paper is still wet,
>> I run it again through the laminator. It hisses and steams, but after a
>> few passes the paper dries and the toner really sticks to the copper.
>>
>> When the peper and board are wet, the paper holds to the board until I
>> manually pull it off. And the toner sticks firm enough that I can run a
>> fingernail across without lifting the toner.
>>
>> Note that if you want to do this, for safety you MUST make sure that the
>> electricals in the laminator are far enough from where you pass the wet
>> board through - I figure if you're making PCBs, you're also able to
>> safely open up your laminator to check this out.
>> It may take careful paper placement to prevent the laminator from
>> tearing the wet paper+toner away from the board.
>>
>> Also, the way to verify that the copper is clean is that when you wet
>> the board, water actually stays wet across the whole surface. If the 
>> water
>> retreats from areas of copper and pools up, your board is dirty. When 
>> it's
>> clean, air-dry it, don't wipe it down. I use Jif for the final clean -
>> rubbed across the board, the abrasive action cleans the copper, and the
>> built in soaps remove the oils.
>>
>> FYI, my setup uses an HP laserjet4 (found on the street), a k-mart
>> laminator, and IJ-84 matte paper. A home made bubble tank (using an
>> aquarium pump + air stone) etches a 5x7mm board in under 10 minutes.
>>
>> BB
>>
>> Chuck Kelsey <wb2edv@...> uttered the following thing:
>>> I picked up a new GBC 9" personal desktop laminator and tried some 
>>> boards
>>> with no luck.
>>>
>>> I'm using a 4" x 6" board with 1 oz. copper and it has a thickness of
>>> 0.032". I clean it with a brillo pad and rinse thoroughly while wiping
>>> with
>>> a wet paper towel, then dry with a paper towel.
>>>
>>> The laser printer is a Lexmark 4039 10plus set at the darkest setting.
>>> Using
>>> the Pulsar toner transfer paper.
>>>
>>> The first attempt I ran the board (with the paper on the bottom) for 8
>>> passes in different directions. The laminator ready light had been on 
>>> for
>>> 15-20 minutes before I began. I also pre-heated the board with a hair
>>> dryer.
>>>
>>> I dropped the board with the paper into a container of water and let it
>>> rest
>>> until the paper floated off on its own. Right away I could see pieces of
>>> black toner floating in the water as I lifted the paper out.
>>>
>>> My second attempt was done the same way, except I ran the board through
>>> 16
>>> times. Same problem - toner pieces floating around in the water.
>>>
>>> This is very discouraging and I'm at a loss. Anyone have any 
>>> suggestions?
>>>
>>> Chuck
>>> WB2EDV
>>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Ben Buxton - Random Network Person
>>
>>
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and 
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and 
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>