---Sean Breheny <shb7@CORNELL.EDU> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Along the lines of the recent Wire Wrapping thread, I have been
trying to
> think of better ways to make proto PCBs. I found an old archive from a
> mailing list in which someone talks about using a plotter with the
ink from
> a lumocolor 313 pen to directly draw on a PCB and then etch. I was
> wondering if anyone here had any experience with something like
this? I see
> several cheap plotters (HP4575A for example) being offered on Ebay,
and I
> might consider trying this if if is a viable method.
>
> I have several concerns, though:
>
> 1) Will the PCB properly feed thru a plotter such as the HP4575A?
>
> 2) Can the lumocolor 313 pen (the consensus seems to be that this is
the
> best) fit into the plotter, and how can one ensure that it will be
the one
> picked up by it(the 4575 has a 6 pen carousel, I think).
>
> 3) Can standard software print to a plotter?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sean
> hello there,
my name is jeremy, and even though this is OT, im writing in response
to sean's letter...rgd plotters
i have a calcomp GT1044 (e-size) pen plotter
and even though it was a pain in the ass to set up, it works like a
champ...needless to say, im very interested to find out if this will
work...
although i have a few suggestions also...
i dont know if the lumacolor 313 pen will fit in the HP you speak of,
however lets assume it does...i dont think plotting onto anything as
thick as a PCB will be possible, however it may be possible to use
heavy bond paper, and iron on the pattern to the PCB, using the
ink...i know this works with laser printers and heavy bond paper
(60lb) because the toner has plastic, and all kinds of other shit,
causing it to stick to the PCB, and then place the paper and PCB into
water, dissolve the paper, leaving behind clay and toner on the PCB,
then acid dip the thing and youre off (the heavier papers supposedly
contain clay)
now, in this process, the key factor here, i think is whether the pen
plotter ink is thick and sticky enough to handle this
but let me know how it turns out, like i said before, i have a
"super-jammer" plotter, so if i can plot a bigger circuit, and use
autocad plugins
but, if it doesnt work, a cheap laser printer is easily gotten nowadays
desade
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