Amen to Mikes suggestion.
I don't own a laser printer, and will not purchase one just for
the purpose of producing PCB's via the TT method.
The folks at my local Office Depot will print anything on
just about any paper that I provide, on condition that it
is not so thick as to cause the printer to jam.
They even allow me to dictate which side of the paper
I want the image to be printed on, and I usually submit
"step and repeat" image original which contains
multiple images for fabricating multiple PCB's from
identical artwork. In that way, I can utilize nearly the
entire 8" x 11" area of the TT paper.
I use a variety of papers, including Office Depot
branded High Gloss photo paper (rather thick), Epson
Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (thin), and a paper from Fry's
called Professional Quality Glossy Photo Paper
#2687282 (medium thickness), and a few others I
can't identify.
I've also had TT images laser printed at a number of
local "Mom & Pop" operated postal/printing establishments in my area,
and all seem to produce very acceptable images for the
TT method. They all seem to use one or the other of the three major
brand laser printer machines.
It seems that the "snags" in the TT method arise in transferring
the image from the paper to the copper laminate.
This info has been offered ad nauseam on this forum.
But then, everyone knows that I'm a bit pedantic.
Roland F. Harriston, PD
∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗
Mike wrote:
>
> Hello Steve,
>
> A possible solution (one that I use since I don't have a laser
> printer) is to print out the PC artwork. Take it to a big box office
> supply store (Office Depot in my case) and have them print it out on
> the toner transfer paper I provide using their laser copier. Cost
> seven cents a copy. I use Techniks, Inc. TT paper.
>
> Also, what I do is print multiple copies of the artwork, cut them
> out, and paste on another sheet of paper. Use this sheet of paper
> for the original and you get the maximum use of a sheet of TT
> paper. Cost the same, seven cents, as printing just a single PC
> artwork item.
>