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Homebrew PCBs

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:05 UTC

Message

My new toner transfer method

2006-07-12 by loco_labs

Hi guys,
just thought i would tell you about my new way of pcb making.

Step 1, Printing the artwork:
using glossy advertising junk mail like bigW or K-mart papers
tear out a clean page a bit smaller than A4, about 1cm from the top 
fold the top edge over and hook it onto a standard A4 sheet so the 
advertising is on the top side, and feed the lot into the paper slot 
of a brother hl-2040 laser printer and click print.
the thin advertising wont jam like this because the normal sheet will 
pull it through.

Step 2, Transferring the toner:
find a laminator, the one i use is marbig A4 home laminator bought 
from safeway, it has silicone rubber rollers that can squash to 
accept a standard thickness bcb. cut out and align the artwork and 
feed it to the warmed up laminator. feed it in a couple of times to 
make sure the board all hot.

Step 3, Etching:
once the laminator spits out the board soak in hot water with dish 
wasking liquid and gently rub off bigW's advertising and etch the 
board. printers like the brother hl-2040 have really delicate toner 
so i have to be very gentle.

any laminator should do, the only mod i did was take the top plastic 
cover off so i could get closer to the rollers for feeding tiny 
boards.
any feedback would be great

-Cheers!

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