Thanks for describing your process. If I try the dry film again, I will give that a try.
The pre-coated board sure worked good. My exposure time ended up being 11 minutes per side with a dual bulb, 18 watt flourescent light. The results were very good. I will have to do some experimenting with different light sources to see if I can speed up the exposure time but overall I am really happy with the results I got so far. I just hope it wasn't beginners luck.
Chris
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
>
>
> "lcdpublishing" <lcdpublishing@...> writes:
> > TO clarify, using the dry film type stuff, I would get blisters -
>
> If you lay the film flat on the pcb and run it through the laminator,
> you're going to get blisters. You've got to either get the air out
> ahead of time (Adam's wet method) or keep the film OFF the pcb until
> the laminator presses it down (my method).
>
> Details of my method:
>
> I flip the PCB over and lay the film next to it, with a 1/2 inch
> overlap, and press the overlap part down. Now I flip the PCB over and
> fold the film along the attached edge. Feed the attached edge into
> the laminator and IMMEDIATELY grab the other two corners of the film
> and peel it off the PCB. Pull gently away from the laminator, and
> apart, to keep the film smooth, and pull up some to keep it off the
> pcb. You want the film's first contact with the PCB to be at the
> laminator's roller, so that no air bubbles are trapped.
>