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Message

Laser Printers

2008-05-01 by Frank

Sorry for the "What's the best laser printer" post but I need advice.

I am currrently using a Xerox DocuPrint 240A to produce positive PCB 
artwork which I then expose via UV to make my boards.  Unfortuantely 
the print quality is poor.

Firstly, the blacks aren't very black, they're all splotchy.  I 
wanted to use GCC Toner Density Spray, but according to GCC, the 
spray only works with carbon based toners - the Xerox uses something 
else - sorry I forget the details.

Second, the dimensions are wrong.  A 100mm x 100mm rectangle comes 
out at about 100.5 x 99.  I can scale it, but not accurately enough.  
My inkjet printer is much more precise but it sprays.

And finally, the paper handling is woeful.  The paper seems to jiggle 
around when being printed.  A line running down the left side of the 
page can be up to 2mm longer than the one on the right.  This makes 
the printer pretty useless for double sided boards.

All this is not a problem for small boards, 50mm x 50mm.  Up to 100mm 
it starts getting a bit tricky, vias can sometimes miss, but can be 
creatively soldered.  Larger than that and it is a waste of time 
trying.  I will go to my local printer and get them to print it for 
me.  They have a large table sized Xerox DocuCenter 1100 which prints 
amazing images on transparency - accurate, black, and no toner 
splatter.  Unfortunately, they are usually busy and I have to wait - 
hence this post; I won't get my print outs till tomorrow.

So, are there better printers around?  Affordable that is.  Am I 
expecting to much from a home laser?  Or do I just have a lemon?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Frank

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