Homebrew PCBs

Hi Kent,

I suspect the ink in your printer is water based ink, that would not 
flow out as you would hope.  I think a solvent based ink would be 
needed for printing on metals and even plastics.  If you ever tried 
to print on transparencies that are not for ink jets, you get the 
same problem.

So I don't think an ordinary ink-jet printer would work, but I think 
the concept would.




--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "John Kent" <moonshadow@n...> 
wrote:
> A quick way of looking at the problems involved is to tape a piece 
of 
> aluminium Kitchen foil to a sheet of A4 paper and then print a PCB 
layout 
> onto it using a standard inkjet printer.
>           In my case the ink lines 'ball up" turning lines into a 
row of 
> dot's. I am not sure whether this was due to some sort of coating 
on the 
> aluminium foil. Same think happened on copper.  On the other hand 
a 
> permanent marker pen produces nice clean lines on the same 
aluminium foil 
> and copper without balling.  .
>          If anyone solves the problem, please let me know .... it 
is the way 
> to go !  ... John Kent
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Earl T. Hackett, Jr." <hacketet@c...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 12:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] INkejet printing right on a circuit 
board....
> 
> 
> >I Googled on 'flatbed inkjet printer' - essentially what you're 
asking for.
> >
> > Here's one that might work
> >
> > http://www.signweb.com/outdoor/prods/Scitex.html
> >
> > Just a bit of overkill for our purposes ;-)
> >
> > It looks like there is something here worth exploring.  Starting 
in 2002 
> > or 2003 there seems to be a bunch of companies constructing 
flatbed 
> > printers in an attempt to get some of the silk screen printing 
business. 
> > Flatbed printers will print on thick, rigid substrates.  Some 
use solvent 
> > based inks.  Solvent based inks have the potential to function 
as etch 
> > resists.  Most of these printers are wide format to print on T-
shirts and 
> > other clothing, and all I checked out look like expensive 
machines. 
> > However, we may be able to find these machines in local shops 
that 
> > traditionally do silk screen printing.  Look for a custom silk 
screen shop 
> > in your area.  You may be able to supply artwork and have him 
print on 
> > your PCB.
> >  ----- Original Message ----- 
> >  From: lcdpublishing
> >  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> >  Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 5:45 PM
> >  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] INkejet printing right on a circuit 
board....
> >
> >
> >  Hi Group,
> >
> >  I am wondering if there is a such a device already out there 
that can
> >  print directly onto a circuit board.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and 
files:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
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> >