--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil" <phil1960us@y...> wrote:
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "gettingalongwouldbenice"
> <gettingalongwouldbenice@y...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > My pen plotter has run out of gas at 0.5 mil pitch.
CORRECTION: That's 0.5mm pitch.
> > Trying to make the transfer to toner transfer.
> > How do I get the gerber output to the laser printer?
> > I downloaded Viewmate. Does an excellent job, but
> > insists on putting the plot in the center of the page.
> > And the free version is crippled so I can't save anything.
>
> Why is placement in the middle of the page an issue? Not criticizing
> just want to know.
Simple, I'm using up 93 square inches of paper for a two square inch
board. Hardly a problem when you know what you're doing.
Seems overly wasteful when you're gonna do dozens of test runs
trying to learn the process. It really, REALLY bugs me when 4 sheets
of paper costs more than the laser printer.
Just call me frugal...REALLY FRUGAL!!!
I'm using the staples picture paper. I got the impression that
it would be pretty easy to get off the board. Seemed pretty darn
hard to me. That's why I thought I might be overheating it...or
underheating it...or doing something wrong.
>
> >
> > Is there a freeware gerber plotter that's less restricting?
> >
>
> I use viewmate - its pretty good for free but would dearly like to
> save my panelized gerbers. Though not at the viewmate costs.
>
> >
> > I'm finding little detailed information on the toner transfer
> > method. Mountains of anecdotal stuff, but almost no data.
> >
>
> there are several sites that espouse one TT aproach or another but no
> systematic sites. I think its because there are too many variables
> (paper, fusing device, toner, ...). You should just try it and see
> what works for you. It doesn't take much experimentation to get
> something that works.
>
> > My iron is 450 degrees F. Is that good? bad? ugly? Time and pressure
> > data is elusive. Yes, I can do all the experiments, but would be
> > nice to avoid most of that.
> >
>
> 450F will do a fine job of fusing toner to copper - its very likely
> you could get by with lower but different toners have different fusing
> points. Depends on your printer/toner. You might want to start with
> 30 lbs of pressure and 3 minutes per side. Be careful of too much
> lateral force, though. I personally like inkjet paper because it
> seems to be forgiving of too much pressure (i.e. I could really put a
> lot of weight into it and not worry).
Has anybody tried turning off the printer fuser? Apply the unfused
image to hot copper, peel it off immediately, then fuse the copper
with a heat gun? Think offset printing. Space the paper up off the
board and run a roller across it once. OR maybe just hit it with
high voltage and use that to transfer the toner image??? Hmmm,
wonder if my Laserjet 4L toner is the magnetic stuff? I feel an
experiment or two coming on.
mike