>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. >1) Will the PCB properly feed thru a plotter such as the HP4575A? Tape the PCB to heavy paper (file folder stock works well). >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). You have to modify the plotter by removing a portion of the top plastic housing between the carousel well and the plotter bed. Otherwise, a long pen will not be able to move between the well and the bed. Very easily done. >3) Can standard software print to a plotter? Use PrintGL from Ravitz software. Ravitz Software Inc. fax 606-268-0577 PO Box 25068 email ravitz@concentric.net Lexington, KY 40524-5068 www http://www.concentric.net/~ravitz/ After telling you all this, I now have to say that I did not have good sucess with the technique. However, you still may want to try it - if you get good results, let us all know. dwayne Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (403) 489-3199 voice (403) 487-6397 fax Celebrating 15 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 1999) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address. My posting messages to Usenet neither grants consent to receive unsolicited commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email.