Homebrew PCBs

On Fri, 02 Jul 2004 07:45:28 +1000, Alex <alexb@...> wrote:

>> > It is getting to the point that if you can draw it, you can etch it.
>> >
>> > Dave
>>
>> It's actually more like "if you can print it you can etch it".
>>
>> ST
>
> How many dpi must the printer be able to handle for 10mil tracks ?
>
> I tried to print out a 600dpi bitmap and even a1200dpi image of my board
> at the public library, and the area with fine tracks didn't look uniform:
> some of the 10mil tracks coming out from a microchip footprint with a 
> pitch
>
> of 0.4mm were thinner than others, and also the spacing between those
> tracks was irregular.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex


You got the problem, the metric spacing and the DPI don't work together at 
all.
I have only 300DPI and it is not enough, i hoped 600 would be OK.
Would be very great if you could scan a 600DPI (and if you still have 
1200DPI) printout.
Not sure if you have a good enough scanner, you need at very least double 
the resolution.

I'm still looking out for a new printer, irregularities in the width would
be tolerable to a certain amount, but the 300DPI almost shorts some traces.

ST