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

----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Seychell" <a_seychell@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 11:34 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] who does SMD ?


> 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.

I get similar results, using an HP 5940 printer and Premium JetStar film for
the transparencies.

Leon
--
Leon Heller
Amateur radio call-sign G1HSM
Yaesu FT-817ND and FT-857D transceivers
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
leon355@...
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller