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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers

From: "Chuck Kelsey" <wb2edv@...>
Date: 2008-02-12

I'm sorry, you said laminator. I read the post to quickly.

Chuck



----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Kelsey" <wb2edv@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers


> Are you using a laminator or iron?
>
> Chuck
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alexandre GuimarĂ£es" <listas@...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:18 PM
> Subject: RES: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>>
>> I am using Pulsar paper, green film, laminator and boards... Results
>> are perfect with 6mils traces and 6mils spacing. It is fast and easy, I
>> just
>> followed their instructions... Nothing fancy or hard !
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> Alexandre Guimaraes
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Mensagem original-----
>> De: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
>> Em
>> nome de Chuck Kelsey
>> Enviada em: segunda-feira, 11 de fevereiro de 2008 20:51
>> Para: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> Assunto: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers
>>
>> Thanks guys for all the tips.
>>
>> Is anyone doing toner transfers and consistently getting perfect results?
>> Maybe my expectations are too high and I'll have to live with some "hand
>> drawn" missing traces.
>>
>> My last attempt was a 4x6" board that actually had 6 circuit boards on it
>> that I'll cut apart. Out of the 6, there was only
>> 1 with no flaws and 2 with a minor flaw.
>>
>> Chuck
>> WB2EDV
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ben Buxton" <bb@...>
>> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 11:43 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Trouble producting transfers
>>
>>
>>>
>>> I had this problem initially where some toner would still lift off the
>>> cpper with the paper.
>>>
>>> The solution I have found is novel, but works surprisingly well - in
>>> fact I can now reliably transfer and etch to smaller than SOIC traces.
>>>
>>> All I do is let the board + paper soak for a few minutes after the
>>> initial 10 or so laminator passes. Then, whilst the paper is still wet,
>>> I run it again through the laminator. It hisses and steams, but after a
>>> few passes the paper dries and the toner really sticks to the copper.
>>>
>>> When the peper and board are wet, the paper holds to the board until I
>>> manually pull it off. And the toner sticks firm enough that I can run a
>>> fingernail across without lifting the toner.
>>>
>>> Note that if you want to do this, for safety you MUST make sure that the
>>> electricals in the laminator are far enough from where you pass the wet
>>> board through - I figure if you're making PCBs, you're also able to
>>> safely open up your laminator to check this out.
>>> It may take careful paper placement to prevent the laminator from
>>> tearing the wet paper+toner away from the board.
>>>
>>> Also, the way to verify that the copper is clean is that when you wet
>>> the board, water actually stays wet across the whole surface. If the
>>> water
>>> retreats from areas of copper and pools up, your board is dirty. When
>>> it's
>>> clean, air-dry it, don't wipe it down. I use Jif for the final clean -
>>> rubbed across the board, the abrasive action cleans the copper, and the
>>> built in soaps remove the oils.
>>>
>>> FYI, my setup uses an HP laserjet4 (found on the street), a k-mart
>>> laminator, and IJ-84 matte paper. A home made bubble tank (using an
>>> aquarium pump + air stone) etches a 5x7mm board in under 10 minutes.
>>>
>>> BB
>>>
>>> Chuck Kelsey <wb2edv@...> uttered the following thing:
>>>> I picked up a new GBC 9" personal desktop laminator and tried some
>>>> boards
>>>> with no luck.
>>>>
>>>> I'm using a 4" x 6" board with 1 oz. copper and it has a thickness of
>>>> 0.032". I clean it with a brillo pad and rinse thoroughly while wiping
>>>> with
>>>> a wet paper towel, then dry with a paper towel.
>>>>
>>>> The laser printer is a Lexmark 4039 10plus set at the darkest setting.
>>>> Using
>>>> the Pulsar toner transfer paper.
>>>>
>>>> The first attempt I ran the board (with the paper on the bottom) for 8
>>>> passes in different directions. The laminator ready light had been on
>>>> for
>>>> 15-20 minutes before I began. I also pre-heated the board with a hair
>>>> dryer.
>>>>
>>>> I dropped the board with the paper into a container of water and let it
>>>> rest
>>>> until the paper floated off on its own. Right away I could see pieces
>>>> of
>>>> black toner floating in the water as I lifted the paper out.
>>>>
>>>> My second attempt was done the same way, except I ran the board through
>>>> 16
>>>> times. Same problem - toner pieces floating around in the water.
>>>>
>>>> This is very discouraging and I'm at a loss. Anyone have any
>>>> suggestions?
>>>>
>>>> Chuck
>>>> WB2EDV
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ben Buxton - Random Network Person
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>>> Photos:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>