I've got an HP 6P printer with a stock HP toner cartridge.
Right now, the sticking of the toner to the copper has not been a problem. It's just that this Advanced Photo Paper from HP stuck the toner and the paper permanently to the copper. Soaking for 6 hours did nothing after tearing off an outer lay of the paper. So I went and picked up a couple more copper boards so I could continue testing. I really believe that this paper has plastic in it, so soaking it in water if the plastic melts, won't do anything because it's water proof. If it has plastic in it, then it's melting temp is far higher than the toner is my guess.
I have a thermocouple I can double check the temperature with. I'll also put something through the laminator to put a heat load on it to see how high the temp will go.
Thanks for your help Ken!
Mike
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "sailingto" <sailingto@...> wrote:
>
> Hmmmmm 294F - that's a bit cooler than most toner transfers. Of course it depends on what toner your printer has. The newer Brother series of printers use abotu 400F toner, but the "normal" toner is usually a bit over 300F.
>
> If you are showning only 300F at the inlet/outlet I'll bet it gets warmer inside - and it depends on the type of temperature control your lamanitor has. On my laminator the temperature will go up to around 330F to 340F, then turn off, cool down to around 280F or so, then turn back on to heat up again.
>
> Using a HP P1006 printer (OEM toner) I tend to get a good toner transfer up around 360F or better. I turn laminator on, allow to heat up to around 370 to 380F, do a quick run thru 4 or 5 times and the toner has transferred pretty good. If I allow the temperature to get too hot (over 400F?) the traces come out looks sorta "mashed" a bit, not the crisp eadges they should be.
>
> You might check the calibration of the themrometer by boiling a pan of water and checking the temperature. At sea level this WILL be at 212F. If you are at 10,000 ft elevation you will need to correct for that as the temperature is lower to boil water.
>
> Keep us informed on your progress - and remember, anything I post is open to correction/comments.
>
> Ken H>
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Phillips" <mikep_95133@> wrote:
> >
> > The thermometer stabilized at 294F. Too cold? Too Hot?
> >
> > I checked it 2 places on the input side of the rollers.
> >
> > Mike
>