--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan"
<stefan_trethan@...> wrote:
> On the other side you use a heat proof silicone roller.
> A fuser already has all those components.
Thanks! The rubber roller idea was mainly because I already have them,
and they have such a nice "grip". I've also got the aluminum-clad iron
with a nice smooth surface, but I guess it wouldn't work, unless I set
it up so that the board just sat on the iron, and the roller moved
across it, while being forced downward. :(
I must say, I don't care for that dowel idea I saw. Just seems like
you're creating a nice "leverage" to stress the board or something.
Maybe a "fixed" roller for a dowel, with some backup support on either
side, set in a bit lower. I guess it's getting kind of ridiculous,
especially since I've already got the "extra flat" iron base, which is
probably one of the reasons they had come up with the rolling dowel
thing. I guess consistent time (or brief, repeated time) and pressure
would be the way to go with the iron, I just need to get a means of
keeping tabs on it (the scale idea), and find a heat sensor or
thermometer, so I can make sure my iron stays at the same temp.
Ideally, I want the laminator, but I still can't get over that ".03x"
idea. I've already got too much thicker stuff, and if it was a good
enough system, it would be nice to even have the option of running
"non-PCB" materials too, since it would be feeding them "through" the
heated rollers (for long stuff). It also seems like, with a unit made
to run various paper and thin plastic sheets,etc., you'd either be
slightly changing the pressure as the thickness varied, or risking too
much stress on the mechanics (or both). However, with the easy setup
and consistency, and the firsthand feedback from here, it is the
obvious choice.
I still wish someone would rig something together just for the PCB's,
either using the guts of a readily available cheap laminator, or some
common commercial heating and rolling parts. When you think about how
worthless a broken copier or printer is to "regular" people, we
probably wouldn't have much trouble obtaining one. I could probably
rig the roller/pressure/feed part somehow, but unfortunately, with
what I've heard on DIY mods, the electrical half of it, and the
understanding of the technical theory behind laser printers,etc., I
myself wouldn't be capable of devising anything without some more
specific instructions.
If anybody knows of some good online info on gutting printers,
laminators,etc. for this stuff, please let me know.
Thanks!
George