Hello,
Got back to the seeing what are the limitations of the inexpensive Harbor
Freight Laminator for use with toner transfer.
The temp. is not fixed nor can it be adjusted. The temp. is controlled by
a simple open/close thermostat. The thermostat is attached to the extruded
aluminum used to hold one of the heating element (bottom one). The
thermostat allows the aluminum to have a heat variation from 278 F to 230
F, as measured by a thermocouple. Do not have a temp. measurement of the
rollers that will transfer the heat/pressure to the toner transfer material
and PCB.
Although the thermostat has a 40 degree max. - min. temp. range, Press and
Peel says a temp. between 275 -325 F, 50 degree variation, should be used
for toner transfer. By the way the Laminator does have a 180 C max. cut
out in line with the heaters and mounted on one of the aluminum heater
holders.
Now a way to set the temp. within the 275 - 325 F range and is needed
(will have to remove the thermostat). It should be simple as the Laminator
cost less than $20. Any ideas would be welcome.
--
73,
Mike, K4GMH
On Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 9:19 PM, Mike <k4gmh@...> wrote:
> Opened the Harbor Freight Laminator and found the cause of having to shove
> the board to get it to start progressing through. The upper and lower
> aluminum assemblage which houses the heater elements has a couple of lips
> through which the board has to pass. This opening between the upper and
> lower aluminum assemblages was just too small to allow the board and the
> toner transfer material to freely pass before being taken up by the rubber
> heat transfer rollers.
>
> There is enough play in the plastic end brackets holding the aluminum
> assemblages to expand the opening to allow the board and toner transfer
> material to pass. A piece of 0.062 double sided PCB wrapped in aluminum
> flashing was wedged between the two aluminum assemblages to maintain the
> opening.
>
> A board with a Techniks Press and Peel toner transfer circuit was passed
> through the Laminator over eight times, but, unfortunately, the toner was
> not evenly transfered. Suspect the board was not getting hot enough even
> with all the passes.
>
> The Laminator is advertised to get up to 300 F (Techniks Press and Peel
> directions says the temp. should be between 275 - 325 F). However, doubt
> if anything near that temp. is getting transfered to the board by the
> rubber like rollers. Next step is to make the Laminator's temp. adjustable
> so it can get hotter and/or slow down the motor driving the rollers pulling
> the board through the Laminator.
>
> On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 11:09 PM, Mike <k4gmh@...> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Just finished running a 0.062 double sided pc board with Techniks Press
>> and Peel toner transfer through the Harbor Freight Laminator, Model 92499.
>> The toner was put on the Press and Peel using a copy machine at a big box
>> store. After seven runs through the Laminator, the result was mixed at
>> best.
>>
>> First, the circuit was not transfered evenly over the length of the
>> board. Second there was a series of pin holes in the toner transfered to
>> the board - as if a roller in the Laminator is a diamond pattern (or
>> whatever this is called).
>>
>> Haven't opened up the Laminator to see what is inside. Anyone else
>> getting any results using the Harbor Freight Laminator?
>>
>> --
>> 73,
>> Mike, K4GMH
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> 73,
> Mike, K4GMH
>
>
>
--
73,
Mike, K4GMH
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