> So true. If one comes to this forum with little or no PCB experience
> one will certainly go away believing that TT is the only sensible
way
> to go.
Well, I wouldn't say that with any certainty. When I came here a few
months back (or however long ago it was), I looked at the variety of
options presented here in the messages, files, and photos sections.
Being familiar with CNC machines, I figured the most direct route for
me was to do isolation routing. However, after some discussions and
some further thinking, I realized isolation routing is probably not
the best solution for me.
Then I say the photosensitive boards in the catalogs and thought about
that process. Having worked in a darkroom and working with
photography, I figured that would be a good direction to go.
Then I looked at what I could about toner transfer. I have laser
printers - 3 of them. I have a pretty wide variety of paper on hand to
try various methods and I have an iron for use in the shop. It also
looks like the cheapest to "Get started" with method - didn't really
need to purchase anything.
So, in my case, I just looked at the options everyone here has
presented, I chose a path and it worked great the first time out.
Then things went south when I bought some different PCB material.
However, being pretty darn new at this, I can't say if I am even close
to understanding the problems associated with the process, nor do I
expect to master it anytime soon. However, trying various things to
make the process work better and more reliable doesn't cost me much
(perhaps paper if I see something I want to try). But, the toner and
the paper is pretty much zero cost to me.
In my experience, toner transfer is worth further exploration - I have
all the stuff I need, just not the understanding what causes certain
problems. Slowly I am working through the problems and finding
solutions. Photo masking will be something I try at some point when I
need to, but toner transfer will do everything I need it to as I don't
do any of the tiny trace stuff.