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

I'm wondering what other people are doing out there for PCB that use
SMD. I finding over the years my PCBs need smaller and smaller tracks to
suit the ever shrinking SMD packages. Well, we know BGA is out, because
that needs a multilayer board. Luckily, only the really big chips are
BGA. These days 0603 chip resistors/caps are the norm. Often I need to
run a trace under a 0603, or my latest project has two 0.5mm pitch TQFP
(leaded) and QFN (leadless) packages. I'm wondering how other people
deal with PCBs for SMD.

I use photomasks from a inkjet printer. Recently I bought a Canon MP810,
and noticed the resolution and line edge sharpness was a noticeable
improvement over my old printers (Epson Stylus 660, Canon i550). Its
definitely true 1200x1200 dpi resolution. Using "3M Universal
Transparency" film, and printing with the driver set to "Photo Paper
Pro", "Quality 1" and Cannon OEM inks, I can just get away with
0.008"(0.20mm) lines/spacings. 18um foil instead 36um makes etching fine
traces a lot better.

Adam