Making PCBs with Acetates?

[Yorkie]

Sorry guys for having inadvertently posted this in the Archive Section, for which I can only apologise and plead old age and insanity in mitigation, so I've re-posted it here, which is perhaps the most approriate section. Thanks to those who read the original posting and for attempting to reply - maybe a discussion could ensue here.

To re-state the issue, here goes:

Unfortunately, since my excellent but ageing HP Photosmart printer gave up the ghost I haven't had any success in printing PCB artwork onto acetates to use as PCB masks. I've mentioned before on the forum that I contacted Epson to discuss this issue and they said that none of their 'home/office' printers support printing onto acetate. Maybe they think that OHPs are a thing of the past and that everyone uses a laptop digital projector and Powerpoint? Whatever. I've not got any sense out of the likes of Office World, Staples, PC World et al in finding out which current production inkjet printers (if any) support acetate printing.

I'm not in the mood to splash out on a laser printer or any other for that matter, but I wondered if anyone on the forum has tried the 'print onto glossy magazine paper' iron-on process for making PCBs. (A bit like 'Press 'n Peel' but a lot cheaper). On the face of things, this looks rather too good to be true, but if it's as good as is suggested, it cuts out the need for UV lacquer/pre-sensitised board, a UV box, and developer. It matters nt that the glossy paper torn out of magazines has printing on it - that's printers ink and won't causes a problem as the laser printer prints onto the glossly paper, and the toner on the paper is then ironed onto the PCB:

http://www.riccibitti.com/pcb/pcb.htm

So, the bottom line is: has anyone on the forum tried it, (the laser iprinter iron on technique) and if so, was the outcome successful or a dismal failure?

Also, does anyone know of a current ink-jet printer which definitely has an acetate setting in the printer software?

TIA.

[AlanBeckett]

My hp C7280 has a 'Presentation Printing' setting.
If you email me a suitable layout in a format I can read I'll scrounge up some OHP film and have a go at printing.
You can do the etching

Alan

   

[Joe]

Mine's supposed to as well:-

   

- Joe

[AlanBeckett]

So does my Laser - see attached.
I reckon David spent all his money on his teeth and couln't afford a proper hp Printer

Alan

   

[Joe]

Let's hope he doesn't break them by gnashing them in frustration.

- Joe

[ed731pdh]

I use a HP Laserjet 5P printer, and directly print onto a sheet of WHSmiths 80gsm tracing paper. Print off two of these, sandwhich together, and then use with pre coated copper clad in a uv light box.

[Yorkie]

Thanks for your interest and helpful feedback guys. I'd have thought that the makers would include in the blurb that a printer will print onto transparencies. In my case, I simply assumed it was the norm, but clearly, it isn't. It wasn't a 'budget' printer either at the time - about £150 - three times what a cheapo one can be had for.

Thanks for your offer of printing a layout Alan - I'll e-mail you something. I'd be interested to see the quality of print from a laser printer.

Re using tracing paper, I've tried that on my ink-jet and it no more like tracing paper than acetate - the print quality was abysmal.

I wonder if there's something in the name of printers - Epson 'Stylus', (writing?) as compared to HP 'Photosmart'?

I've made countless PCBs over many years using UV, but I don't actually make many these days, so it isn't keeping me awake at night.

I'm still intrigued as to what results the 'print on a laser onto glossy paper 'iron-on' technique' produces.

As to the gnashers, it's quite a palaver - I've got another five one-hour appointments and don't enquire too closely what the dentist is going to do.

I went last week for what I thought was just a check-up and was in the chair for an hour. X-Rays taken, which made me look like the bionic man. Yikes, when I saw how far those eight titanium jobbies are embedded in my jaws, it explains why I looked as though I'd been decked by Tyson. Teeth were taken off, impressions taken, new permanent set to be made, and these one refitted till the final set arrive, then these will then be 'spare wheels'. So, meanwhile, if I have to grind and grit my teeth - no worries - they only have to see me out for a month or two.

[Bushbaby]

Hi David,
The answer is yes and I used the iron on technique to produce the PCBs for your ESR meter that Josh I successfully constructed. The iron on transfer paper is a tad expensive but works well with both of the laser printers that I have (both Samsungs - an older B&W printer and a bottom of the range colour printer).

I've had the B&W laser about 12 years and its still going strong (touch wood). It works out so much cheaper than an inkjet to run.

Regards

Rob

[Joe]

I've got a laser printer but no blank PCB.

- Joe

[Nick]

Just a quick point - if you are using transparencies to make a photo-resist mask, make sure you print in "mirror" format...

This is so that the ink surface is in contact with the photo-resist, thus when UV exposure happens, there is little "under-cutting" due to the UV getting behind the ink due to the ink being separated from the board by the transparent acetate.

The edges of your traces will be much better this way and fine detail will not be lost. I know its not so important here, but when making boards for fine-pitched SMD components (down to 0.5mm pin pitch), thinks like this are important.

Also, immersion tin plating is neat and prevents the traces from corroding - you could of course solder-wipe them too.

If you are concerned about the current carrying capacity of traces, you might find my calculator at http://www.desmith.net/NMdS/Electronics/TraceWidth.html helpful.

Cheers