I've tried various techniques for getting PCB resist onto the copperclad - including trying to get it to go through various kinds of printer - nothing worked well. Back in the days of the Apple II, I had a plotter, into which I put an indelible ink pen - the software then drew the tracks straight on to the copper. This was OK, but not capable of really thin or close tracks. It was fine for the few prototype PSUs I was working on at the time.... The only way to use a laser printer (in my experience) is to print the artwork on to draughting film, and then go the photograpic route.... Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dale Botkin" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 6:48 PM Subject: Re: [EE]: Printer to PCB? > On Tue, 12 Nov 2002, Robert Rolf wrote: > > > The charge is stored and imaged on the DRUM inside the toner > > cartridge. It is then transfered to the paper, which is why you need a > > bit of flex there. They don't store charge on the paper because it's > > just too hard to control the conductivity between reams (humidity > > varies all over the place). > > Good point. I wonder, though, what effect a solid copper sheet hitting > the charged drum surface would have. Also in a normal laser > printer/copier setup, the paper is charged before being pressed against > the drum. > > In short, while there may be a theoretical way to get it to work, I > strongly suspect the practical difficulties in getting a laser printer > modified to print on copperclad board will be far too great for the > average (or even above average) person. The process depends completely on > controlled electrostatic charges, and I think the presence of a sheet of > copper is going to disrupt things beyond the point where you can get a > conumer grade laser to deal with it. Of course I could be wrong, don't let > me stop anyone from trying, but good luck. I've spent far too many hours > in the bowels of lasers (from LJ-I to Xerox 3700, 8700, 9700, Siemens > 1km/hr continuous feed cold fusion, you name it) just to get them to print > on various types of *paper* reliably. Remember, the end result has to be > not just toner on copper, but a near perfect image. > > Dale > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu