I have used direct plotting to PCB in the past, and gave it up a few years
ago. I had ink flow problems which would result in the traces not being
draw thickly enough several times through a plot. I was using 0.35mm pen
(so that I could do some thin traces) and I don't know if a larger pen size
would help. I wrote a Dephi (pascal) prgram which took the plot file and
after a length of drawn line, inserted a number of pen up, backspace, pen
down commands to 'shake' the pen and try and get more ink to the tip.
If you want to try here are some of the things you need to know:
You need to use a tungsten carbide 'X' point tip (the other tips are too
soft)
the pen is raised up by the addition of a washer placed below the ring of
the pen holder - experimentation will show you how low to put the ring so
that the pen holder can pick it up, and how high to put it so that the pen
tip is still flat on the surface of the board.
tape a peice of paper to the bed, and plot the board to the paper
Tape an oversized piece of PCB over the plot drawn above.
Fill the pen with ink (I tried for ages to find the right one, it was a
steadler ink. I think I still might have some at home if you want me to dig
out the part number, but IIRR it was out of production the last time I
bought some)
Plot the board
clean the pen - the only way to do this close to properly is to use an
ultrasonic cleaning bath. I ended up dissasembling the pen while cleaning
(I'm told you shouldn't really do this!) as it could easily spent a couple
of hours in the bath with me changing the solvent every 10 mins or so.
then etch and protect the board as usual.\
I eventually gave up due to the trace issue above, and I couldn't
translate it to double sided with any degree of accuracy.
Trev
On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 1:26 AM, <casy_ch@...> wrote:
>
>
> Don
>
> Could you send me your private adress to <casy_ch at tbwil dot ch>. I have
> files for you.
>
> Jean-Claude
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: VK3YV
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 4:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
>
> Hi Jean-Claude, that is a big help, now I need to know the DIP switch
> settings, I will be using the parallel port, and hopefully be able to use
> it
> with win xp, do you still have the dip switch settings?
> Many thanks,
> Don VK3YV........
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <casy_ch@... <casy_ch%40tbwil.ch>>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 12:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
>
> > Hi Don
> >
> > In the past I have had a DXY800 and later a DXY1150.
> >
> > All use HPGL (Hewlett Packard Graphic Language). Your programm should
> have
> > a HPGL driver and will generate a <xx.PLT> file.
> >
> > If you go to:
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPGL
> > you will find the language it is using.
> >
> > 73 de Jean-Claude, Switzerland
> > HE9EZX
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: VK3YV
> > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 3:02 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi, on seeing you are using a Roland Plotter for pcb drawing I have a
> > query,
> > I have a Roland DXY 800 for which I have no information i.e.. dip switch
> > settings etc. that I would also like to use for PCB work. I have no
> > information at all about it , I don't even know what language it talks.
> > Can
> > any one help, I have searched for hours but cant find anything regarding
> > setup or language/ emulation .
> > Regards,
> > Don VK3YV.....
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "P COUNSELL" <pcounsell@...<pcounsell%40btinternet.com>
> >
> > To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>>
> > Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 8:54 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
> >
> > > Unfortunately athough I have some pens whuch were designed for pcbs
> > they
> > > are no longer availabe for rowland plotters. I do not see that as a big
> > > problem . I intend to use EDDING 404 PEN TIPS with edding 404 refill
> > ink
> > > with a homemade holder. I will first try recharging my existing tips
> > when
> > > they run out with EDDING PERMANENT MARKER REFILL INK, I expect this to
> > > work fine.
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: P COUNSELL
> > > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 10:41 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I modified my DXY880a very easily by using a piece of standard pcb
> > board
> > > so that the pen height was perfect for standard thickness pcbs.
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: borgrailuk
> > > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 9:30 PM
> > > Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Sounds interesting. How did you modify the plotter pen height and which
> > > pens/ink did you use?
> > >
> > > I have a DXY1200 - not too keen to modify height but am planning on
> > using
> > > a slightly thinner pcb, which will fit.
> > >
> > > Stephen Freeman
> > >
> > > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "P COUNSELL" <pcounsell@...>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have a very good dos program CADPAK and I use an old rowland
> > DXY-880A
> > > plotter. Results are fantastic . I modified the height of the plotter
> > pen
> > > to accomodate standard thickness PCB board. Only problem is it wont do
> > > tracks fine enough for intertrack knecking , itis also very slow on
> > > printing directly onto the copperlaminate but I have a cup of tea. Fine
> > > for prototyping.
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Bob Butcher
> > > > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 9:53 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I have had a lot of trouble with toner transfer as well. My Brother
> > > 1440 laser printer toner will not release reliably from any paper I
> > have
> > > found. I have heard the toner has a higher melting temperature than
> > some
> > > other printers, but am not sure what the problem is.
> > > > I am not sure how you plan to modify the Artisan 50 inkjet printer to
> > > directly print on the rigid PCB material. Another thing to consider,
> > most
> > > of the ink jet ink I have seen is water soluble, so the etchant will
> > > dissolve the ink before it has a chance. I know there are ink jet
> > printers
> > > that are capable of using solvent based inks, but all the ones I have
> > seen
> > > are very expensive, in the several thousands of dollar range. You can
> > buy
> > > inexpensive "paint pens" from art and craft stores that might be useful
>
> > if
> > > you could find a flat bed printer that could be adapted to pens. I have
>
> > on
> > > old large format HP printer designed for CAD drafting that uses pens,
> > but
> > > the pen only moves on one axis, and the paper is fed back and forth by
> > a
> > > roller system for the other axis. The paper is wrapped around the
> > rollers,
> > > so it cannot be easily adapted to a rigid PCB. If someone had a flat
> > bed
> > > printer with a moving pen on two axes, that might work. Sounds like an
> > old
> > > school
> > > > chart recorder might work, if you could find a working model that
> > would
> > > interface to a modern computer.
> > > >
> > > > Bob
> > > >
> > > > --- On Wed, 7/21/10, gnuvvekaavaali <gnuvvekaavaali@...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: gnuvvekaavaali <gnuvvekaavaali@...>
> > > > Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Inkjet or Laser for PCB work?
> > > > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 12:22 AM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I am looking for suggestions on the choice of
> > > >
> > > > Inkjet (for direct inkjet printing) or laser
> > > >
> > > > printer (toner transfer) for the occasional single sided PCB.
> > > >
> > > > I don't see I will be needing very thin or dense tracks.
> > > >
> > > > My experience with toner transfer have not been too good. I
> > > >
> > > > used a Samsung Laser printer, and a hot clothes iron,
> > > >
> > > > with different types of paper.
> > > >
> > > > Best results have been with glossy magazine paper, but still
> > > >
> > > > had some improper transfers.
> > > >
> > > > The Epson Artisan 50 inkjet seems to be moddable for direct pcb
> > > printing, and I can get that for cheap.
> > > >
> > > > Wondering if this is a easier and reliable way than toner transfer.
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> > > Photos:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------
> >
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> > Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3044 - Release Date: 08/02/10
> > 04:40:00
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> > Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3044 - Release Date: 08/02/10
> 04:40:00
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>
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>
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