Homebrew PCBs

MIke,

That isn't a bad idea at all - I have not tried it myself, but while 
ironing some boards this weekend, I was thinking of something very 
similar.  

The presure is important in this process - and it must be even 
presure which means there has to be something between the heat 
source and the PCB to deal with any high spots so you get even 
transfer. CUrrently I use a heavy duty paper towel for 
this "padding".

Heat is another key element - I have been have good luck at 360 
Degrees F for my paper.  So the press would need to create the 
proper amount of heat - evenly across it's platten.

When using the Iron, it is very easy to mess up in a couple of 
areas....

1) Not getting a transfer where the steam holes are in the iron - I 
usually press 10 seconds, move the iron, press another 10 second to 
make sure I avoid the steam hole problem

2) No sideways movement when pressing.  This is a problem when the 
transfer paper slides sideways during the pressing and smears the 
toner.  Pushing straight down with a good amount of force is harder 
than it seems.

3) Having to press several times because the iron is not big enough.

So, while pressing this weekend, I was thinking of the same thing, a 
T-Shirt press for Iron on transfers.  I expect that they are 
expensive though.  Making one mechanically should not be all that 
difficult.  The heating element is the big problem - you need even 
heat across the whole surface and I have no idea how to make a 
heating element :-(

So, in my opinion, you don't have a crazy idea!

Chris







--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mikegw20" <mikegw20@h...> 
wrote:
>
> Helo all.
> 
> I just had a few random thoughts about toner transfer and I 
wondered if 
> anyone has tried them.  I am using an iron with a good level of 
success 
> as the boards I am using are quite small.  However, I read that 
many 
> people prefer the laminator to supply heat and pressure.  
> 
> So I was letting my mind wander with heat and pressure and the 
thought 
> about sandwich presses (obviously you would need a flat plate) and 
> shirt iron presses (I am not sure of the proper name but the 
things 
> that iron a whole shirt in one pull of the handle)?  The 
disadvantage 
> would be the size, but both would require no modification unlike 
some 
> laminators.
> 
> Has anyone tried either of these two?
> 
> Mike
>