Homebrew PCBs

Hi,

Just dropping in to report my latest results using the Pulsar 
transfer paper, pic here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/files/Pulsar/

Filename: Toner transfer smaller.JPG

I scratched at the bottom right with my nail and only a few speckles 
of toner came off.  This PCB is 3 3/4" square.  The connector in the 
center is 0.5mm pitch with 10mil traces leading into 20mil traces.  
Even the thin border line and super small text stayed on.  They 
usually fall off from being too close to the edge and not getting 
enough heat or pressure.

This was with a Konica Minolta PagePro 1350W laser printer and 
replacement toner from here:
http://stores.ebay.ca/TonerKits-SUPERSTORE

A refill for 6000 pages and chip costs $20USD, compared to $100-$125 
for the cartridge retail.  The printer initially comes with only 1/4 
toner capacity; 1500 pages.  The stock toner is very good, but this 
replacement toner is even better.

I've tried several HP printers and this printer/toner combination far 
exceeds anything I've gotten with the HP.  The only drawback is a 
slight skew in the image, but that might be because I'm printing only 
on the right side of the page instead of dead center.  Yup, I screwed 
up when I refilled the toner and put a tiny scratch in the center of 
the drum.

The problem with the skew is that the 2 sides cannot be perfectly 
aligned into a 'sandwich'.  I have to compromise a little and make 
the pads for the vias slightly larger, no big deal.  Then I slip the 
PCB in the paper sandwich and pass it through a H300 laminator about 
12-15 times; flipping the PCB each time through.

Robert
:)