Hi,all I just happened to see this. it may not be what we want but maybe the ink???? http://www.e-insite.net/ecnmag/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA255393 regards victor ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roman Black" To: Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 8:34 AM Subject: Re: [EE]: Printer to PCB? > William Chops Westfield wrote: > > > > 2 - What I really wonder is, could you expose an UV sensitised laminate > > with a laser pen attached to a print head... ? > > > > UV (or "near UV") LEDs are pretty cheap these days... > > > This sounds viable, but there are issues; > * UV coated boards are; > * expensive > * go off over time (that sucks) > * get scratched (and that sucks) > * hard to cut small without damaging coating > * NEED EXTRA PROCESSES! > > Coupled with the extra problems of getting a suitable > UV plotter, which sounds mugh harder than just finding > a waterproof ink that works in a bubblejet. > > I like to design things from the back forward, as > the SOLUTION is what you really want, not the process. > What's that great Japanese saying? "Fix the solution, > NOT the problem" or something like that. :o) > > I think the solution to fast prototyping is; > * ink direct to PCB > * fast etch in bubble tank > * no drilling required > * SMD parts using paste syringe and hot air gun > * ability for tiny boards > > This should be CHEAP and FAST. > > I like XYZ routers and have one semi finished in > my workshop, but wouldn't use it for PCB routing > for so many reasons; > * REALLY NOISY! > * PCB dust is very abrasive and wrecks tools > * PCB (glass!) dust is very bad to breathe > * huge rigidity is needed to stop jumping which > wrecks tools > * needs supervising (tools dull and break) > * produces worse board than etching, especially > for SMD > * slower and less accurate than etching for larger > boards, routing will sometimes break fine tracks, > mechanically stresses track glue even before > soldering stresses start > * forces you to remove minimum copper, and hence > compromise board design or soldering ease to > reduce tool costs > > I really like Cristian's suggestion to just modify > a cheap common bubblejet to feed PCB thickness > material. I also think it is worth going that extra > step to make a carrier "plate" or "tray" that can > be just made out of PCB too, which is a thickness > on the edges (2 PCB?) to always feed well, and will > hold one or more small PCB on the tray as it feeds. > Using the standard feed tray should allow some simple > guides to ensure reliable tray feeding, and you can > use any tiny bits of PCB you have around. > > The small PCB can be held down by blu-tack or anything > as it has no roller contact stresses. Once the PCB > is "inked" it can be etched and provide a good PCB > for SMD parts, with none of the height variations or > track edge dags that a router would make. > > The SMD parts can be placed very quickly with a > standard paste syringe and the aquarium pump and > finger-hole vacuum pencil described by Alexandre, > cheap and much faster than through-hole bending > threading and snipping. > > Soldering can be done with a cheap hot air gun of > the type used for paint stripping or the solder > sucker hot air gun discussed on the list about > a year back. This will be quicker than the equivalent > through-hole work and solders the entire board in > a few seconds without eye and hand strain. > > And this system would be perfect for hobby style > production runs of 5 to 20 that a large portion of > piclist members would like to do. How many of us > pay for board production when we only need a few > gizmos made? > -Roman > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.