Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

A small update on my "direct-to-PCB" printing experiments:

1. I have tested the $4 Epson C86 printer. I had to replace the three
color cartridges because they were empty. ($9 each!) After a couple of
cleaning cycles with the new cartridges, and a pass through the head
alignment process, it is printing fine. I verified by printing one of
my vacation photos on Photo paper. Looks pretty nice. (BTW, the
cartridges are down to 89% ALREADY! This is INSANE. I have installed
the SSC printer utility. I notice it has options for interfacing to a
homemade chip resetter. Looks pretty useful. Anyway, with CIS, I
hope I won't have to bother.)

2. I have received the (so-called) $12 CIS system. It looks like it
could actually work. Haven't installed it yet.

3. I have received the MIS Pro Inks. 2 Fluid Oz sure is a LOT of ink.

All right, so I really didn't accomplish much on this over the
weekend. And it seems a little excessive to have bought the new
cartridges (when I have the CIS system sitting there.) But I have to
proceed one step at a time...since all the equipment is new to me. I
wanted to make sure the printer actually worked...BEFORE I started
changing over to CIS. (Or ripping off the plastic to get a straight-
through feed, etc...)

Jim