Homebrew PCBs

Hi PCBers,  Mostly lurking, but thought I'd comment on this thread. 
Have U ever heard of MicroPen?  I used to work with their equipment
about 10yrs ago.  I was depositing gold traces on 2in x 2" ceramic
substrates.  MicroPen could also do resististance lines with a "carbon
ink".  Also, could do insulative ink for crossing over the gold lines
with other gold lines.  I believe the company is still in business(?)
 U would need an X/Y table with a Z-axis dispenser.  The ink came in
little syringes and had date-codes like solder-paste.  For a small
pcb, this would be great.  I could put 3 or 4 teeny tiny lines between
.1 centers easily.  The system had a built-in microscope-camera-color
monitor.  I thought it was really cool!!  I think a Sherline CNC mill
could be adapted.  I've been thinking of trying, but other things in
life seem to get in the way  :-p   PM me for more info/chat  T


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@...> wrote:
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Henry Liu" <henryjliu@> wrote:
> >
> > Seems like a pen might not be ideal.  What about an inkjet head
> > attached to a cnc?
> > 
> > The reason for the CNC is that I already have a CNC with .0001"
> > repeatable resolution which means I don't need to do anything.
> > 
> > If you don't have CNC, you can build one pretty easily and it has a
> > lot of other useful features.
> > 
> > Anyway, I can set an M function in the G-code to trip a relay to turn
> > the ink on and off.
> > 
> > All I need to do is figure out how to turn the inkjet head on and off.
> > 
> > I know some people have modified an inkjet to take larger stock but I
> > haven't seen a mod which basically tells the ink jet head to shoot
> > ink.
> 
> A gentleman named Fogassa is building a 3D printer using a Lexmark. He
> is not using the printer electronics to run the head, he's using his
> own drivers and firmware.
> 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/diy_3d_printing_and_fabrication/
> 
> Steve Greenfield
>