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Subject: Standard inkjet inks for etch resist?

From: "Steve" <alienrelics@...>
Date: 2004-02-02

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:

> maybe we should try the ink which is alerady in the cartridge?
> why won't it work? i think it is water resistant.
>
> you already have the bj200 so it does not hurt to try.
> but i bet it will not work ;-).

Some of the Canon black ink is pigmented, but all of the color ink is
dye based and runs at the slightest hint of moisture unless on special
paper.

It also beads up like mad on glossy non-inkjet surfaces. I've tried.

> as said i see only a chance with the piezo jet,
> and then there i see a huge load of problems coming...

Hey! Pigmented inks for Epson printers are waterfast, or at least
water resistant.

The big problem is that standard inkjet inks don't stick well unless
the surface is treated with something. And that kinda subverts etching
if the board has a coating.

However- pigmented inks can print on glossy paper, they just take
forever to dry. No reason you can't heat the board to dry the ink.

That Epson 800 (non-color version) that I have is still sitting here
without an ink tank. However, I am about to fit an Epson 1520 with
pigmented inks. It has a straight through paper path and should feed
some of the very thin double-sided PCB I have here. I'll scrub it up
with plastic scrubber and a degreaser like Comet, as if to do toner
transfer. Then I think I may heat the board before printing on it,
then maybe set it on a warmer plate to dry.

Most of the new Epson models like the C84 use their new resin coated
pigmented inks that are made to work better with glossy paper, so they
may work better than generic pigmented inks or older Epson pigmented
printers like the C80, C82, 1280, etc. But 3rd party pigmented inks
are -much- cheaper.

Steve