Homebrew PCBs

Hello all, the $25 GBC Personal Laminator it says to use a carrier with the laminator - is this really needed?  I've just used a piece of paper folded around the item as a carrier.

OR is the toner transfer paper wrapped around the copper board all that is required?  It seems to feed thru just fine and isn't that the only reason for the carrier - to assure the item does not wrap around the roller and feed out the back?

Thanks to all for comments.

Ken H> K9FV

A PCB does not require a carrier.

I tape the artwork to the PCB with blue painters tape.  The other side
of the PCB is bare.

A common reason for bad transfers is a laminator that is not hot enough.
If in doubt let it run longer prior to using it.  Even the units with a
ready light can get warmer if allowed to warm up for a few extra
minutes.

Daniel Johnson
aka 3v0

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "sailingto" <sailingto@...> wrote:
>
> Hello all, the $25 GBC Personal Laminator it says to use a carrier
with the laminator - is this really needed?  I've just used a piece of
paper folded around the item as a carrier.
>
> OR is the toner transfer paper wrapped around the copper board all
that is required?  It seems to feed thru just fine and isn't that the
only reason for the carrier - to assure the item does not wrap around
the roller and feed out the back?

>
> Thanks to all for comments.
>
> Ken H> K9FV
>

The only time I use a carrier is with photo-resist to keep from contaminating the rollers with resist. Even then, only a thin paper carrier is needed.
 
Also, I added a foot switch to mine to stop the drive so I can carefully get everything in place before running the material. With photo-resist, it is easier to hold the film away from the board as it feeds. I get less bubbles / pinholes that way. Or, in some cases, I apply the photo-resist using a printer's brayer, then laminate.
 
Ed Smith
 
============================================

--- On Wed, 6/24/09, a3v03v0 <a3v03v0@...> wrote:

From: a3v03v0 <a3v03v0@...>
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: GBC laminator Question
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:29 AM








A PCB does not require a carrier.

I tape the artwork to the PCB with blue painters tape. The other side
of the PCB is bare.

A common reason for bad transfers is a laminator that is not hot enough.
If in doubt let it run longer prior to using it. Even the units with a
ready light can get warmer if allowed to warm up for a few extra
minutes.

Daniel Johnson
aka 3v0

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@ yahoogroups. com, "sailingto" <sailingto@. ..> wrote:
>
> Hello all, the $25 GBC Personal Laminator it says to use a carrier
with the laminator - is this really needed? I've just used a piece of
paper folded around the item as a carrier.
>
> OR is the toner transfer paper wrapped around the copper board all
that is required? It seems to feed thru just fine and isn't that the
only reason for the carrier - to assure the item does not wrap around
the roller and feed out the back?
>
> Thanks to all for comments.
>
> Ken H> K9FV
>

















      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm guessing there are two issues here:

1. Sticking to the rollers.
2. wrapping around the rollers.

#1 is solved with some paper.

#2 doesn't happen with PCBs.