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

previous by date index next by date
previous in topic topic list next in topic

Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Laser Printer Alternative

From: "Myc Holmes" <mycroft2152y@...>
Date: 2008-05-05

I saw a Samsung Laser printer in the Staples flyer this weekend for $59.

I've benen using one for toner transfer for a number of years.


Myc

On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 12:55 PM, Dennis <dl5012@...> wrote:

> Hi Robin,
>
> If you can spend US$50-60, you might be able to get a used laser
> printer on eBay. I picked up several Lexmark Optra E+ for around
> US$50 each (including shipping/handling) and consider them a prudent
> purchase.
>
> I do almost all of my printing in B&W these days and the cost of
> toner refills is much, much lower than ink refills. A toner refill
> costs me about US$10 and is rated at 5000 sheets (at 5% coverage).
> I've refilled my cartridge twice and don't even think twice about
> printing board layouts for review.
>
> I still use an inkjet for color printing, but now refill much less
> frequently.
>
> I haven't found any significant difference between OEM toner and the
> refills I got from a place in Canada (they sell on eBay). I use
> inkjet transparencies instead of paper and have had very good
> results with 8 mil traces and 8 mil spaces; though I usually use
> wider traces and spaces to make the boards easier to make and less
> susceptible to mild pitting. I size my traces so pitting is only a
> cosmetic issue.
>
> I've found that, as with paper, not all inkjet transparencies work
> well. I'm using an HP brand. I tried another members idea of using
> a heat gun to "fuse" the toner after transferring and found that it
> works well. I did it on one of my "goof" boards and it turned out
> okay; more pitting than usual, but I didn't spend much time touching
> up (only traces that transferred very poorly).
>
> If you can't spend $50, finding a place to make laser copies on your
> paper would be one method. But with the cost of gas being what it
> is, a laser printer would quickly pay for itself if you also used it
> for general B&W printing...
>
> Regards,
> Dennis
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "Robin" <skeeterb_2002@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > I don't have a laser printer and I don't have the funds to invest
> in a
> > laser printer right now, but I still want to create my own PCBs.
> All I
> > have access to right now are 2 Inkjet printers. One is a Lexmark
> Z12
> > inkjet and the other is a HP OfficeJet 5610 All-In-One
> > Printer/Scanner/Fax. How would I go about creating a PCB without
> > access to laser printer and only inkjet printers?
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]