I can't find the recent post where I talked about this (I guess the search function is not yet working right??), but have a look at this test board that I did -- the patterns are 10/10, 8/8, 6/6, and 5/5. As you can see, after etching, the traces are not wider than the spaces; if anything, they are narrower.
http://home.earthlink.net/~a_wake/tt_test_closeup.jpg --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Mark Lerman <mlerman@...> wrote:
>
> If your traces are 10 mil wide and they spread by a mil or so on each
> side, you might not notice. But that same spread is very noticeable
> with 7 mil traces.
>
> Mark
>
> At 11:37 AM 3/25/2010, you wrote:
>
>
> >--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Mark Lerman <mlerman@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Has any been measuring the actual trace widths produced with toner
> > > transfer? I would think that running it through a laminator would
> > > significantly spread the trace. I just ordered a stage calibrator to
> > > measure widths with my microscope, but I would be very interested in
> > > hearing from anyone who had made these measurements.
> > >
> > > Mark
> > >
> >
> >
> >I haven't measured the actual traces, but they look identical to the
> >printout prior to transfer, no visible spreading at all.
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>