Homebrew PCBs

On Sat, 7 May 2005 14:09:56 +0100, John Kent <moonshadow@...>  
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


agree!!

To me it seems the marker ink contains stuff that wets the metal, and  
allows the ink ot form a proper film.

I would agree that direct printing would be nice, but i do not expect to  
find a reasonably cheap solution any time soon.
Even if you find THE ink, it must work in the printer, 100%, if only one  
nozzle is out you can forget it.
If the printer doesn't form a continous film on metals, forget it.

I tried staedtler red marker ink in a piezo epson. it did not work.  
(clogging of head).

Right not toner transfer produces good quality, every time, and it works  
already.
Inkjet printing would be nice because it would have better geometric  
accuracy.

What should be said is that TEK sublimation printers (solid ink) are used  
with success for direct resist printing on thin sheets of copper.


ST