Homebrew PCBs

Sorry for the delay in answering. I have been traveling 
internationally.

The blades and holders are available at www.gapusa.com the last time 
I looked. Swivel knives and specialized toolholders (blade holders) 
for various systems.

We have customers using vinyl manufactured by Arlon Adhesives & Films 
Div. in Santa Ana, CA  http://www.arlon.com  The most popular for PCB 
designing is either the Calon 2mil or Calon CalPlus 4mil vinyl.

Go to the Arlon website and click on Dealers to find a local source 
to your location.

I am not sure what the min width traces that can be achieved with the 
above since I do not personally make PCB's but have heard that the 
Calon vinyl works very well.

Blade offset is usually set on the plotter to acomodate the "pen" 
width or the "blade" point setback. This can usually be set from the 
plotter menu or by dip switches.

Can't seem to see or view any problem with website at http://www.grs-
systems.com in IE6 or IE5 nor in NS7 in 480 x 680 & above resolutions.

There is a SignTools DEMO SOFTWARE available on the above website 
that is fully functionable. You can download it and try it for your 
application. Just click on the SignTools Logo once you arrive at the 
site.  http://www.grs-systems.com 

I hope this helps.

Regards,
TW


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@y...> 
wrote:
> You would be more than welcome to join the Signmaker list, too.
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/signmaker
> 
> A similar discussion is going on their right now. I have an old
> Calgraph plotter, a 1043GT. Another person here has an HP 7475 he'd
> like to convert.
> 
> Does the $200 version of your software correct for blade offset?
> 
> How find are the traces you can get reliably using vinyl, and what
> kind (brand, make) of vinyl are you using for this?
> 
> Your website is displaying kind of funky in both IE 6 and NS 7.
> 
> And if you add http:// to your website address, it becomes a 
clickable
> link in most email readers. 
> http://www.grs-systems.com
> 
> Steve
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "T. W. Jolly" <grsystem@a...> 
wrote:
> > 
> > I have been reading that some of you are interested in doing 
PCB's 
> > from vinyl masking cut on plotters. And about converting plotters 
to 
> > vinyl cutting plotters.
> > 
> > We have been doing vinyl cutting for PCB prototypes for over 15 
years 
> > now, using pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) vinyl, masking films 
and 
> > papers.
> > 
> > We also repair and modify many brands of plotters for vinyl 
cutting. 
> > Some are easy to do and others cannot be done at all.
> > 
> > If you have a specific HP plotter that you want some info on 
> > modifying to vinyl cutting, contact me offboard at info@grs-
> > systems.com and I can help steer you in the right direction with 
some 
> > free help.
> > 
> > Most of our designs are done in CorelDRAW or done in CAD programs 
> > then imported into CorelDRAW. Then we use SIgnTools3 software to 
cut 
> > the resist patterns. Very simple and the software is less that 
$200.
> > 
> > Glad to help anyone on or off board with help getting you 
started. We 
> > have some info on our website at www.grs-systems.com  There is a 
> > whole section on designing with software and the books to use, 
etc.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > Ted Jolly
> > www.grs-systems.com