[sdiy] good way to get single layer Press n peel layouts?

[David G. Dixon]

Having just etched, cleaned and drilled a couple of pcbs using
Press-and-Peel, I can report that the Sharpie permanent marker is a better
mask than the Press-and-Peel + Laserjet print.  This is based on the
observation that, wherever I had to touch up the transfer with Sharpie pen,
the copper underneath was very smooth and bright, whereas the copper
underneath the transfer medium looked just a tiny bit distressed.  The
Sharpie was also much easier to wash off with acetone.  The transfer residue
only came off completely with steel wool and elbow grease.

Too bad there isn't an easy method for silkscreening patterns onto pcbs with
permanent marker ink (or is there?).  Barring this, perhaps transfering the
"negative" image onto the pcb with a water-soluble transfer medium, then
painting the spaces with permanent marker ink, then washing off the transfer
medium and etching would work.  Any insights?  In any case, I'll definitely
use the transfer paper again, as photo-resist sounds like a hassle and
requires special equipment.

David G. Dixon
Professor
Department of Materials Engineering
University of British Columbia
309-6350 Stores Road
Vancouver, B.C.  V6T 1Z4
Canada
 
Tel 1-604-822-3679
Fax 1-604-822-3619
 
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