Homebrew PCBs

> > > tukiel wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello all,
> > >
> > > Does anyone know what silkscreen ink I
> > > should use for making solder resists
> > > (mask)? I have made many prototypes, but
> > > a nice thing to have would be a solder
> > > mask. So far I have not thought of
> > > anything but silk screen...

> > andrewm wrote:
> >
> > A UV hardened material specifically intended
> > for the purpose perhapse?
> > http://www.thinktink.com/stack/volumes/voli/store/specs/8130spec.htm
> >
> > You expose and develop it in a very similar
> > way to your resist.
> >
> > Then you put it back under the UV light to
> > harden it.

> Myc wrote:
>
> Andrew, I would think that the minimum
> purchase of one $200+ roll  (40 ft by
> 12") puts the technology out of the
> range of most hobbyists. There is a big
> difference between technically feasible
> and practical.
> 
> Do you have  a source for smaller amounts?

No - sorry.  Don't know where to buy
smaller ammounts.  There will be cheaper
places than think-tink but thats the smallest
size I imagine.

I would have thought that if a hobbiest/
homebrewer was after a solder mask it would
be to aid soldering small pitch devices.

I can't think of a feasable way of doing a
soldermask of fine pitch devices that isn't
photographic.

Silk screening is good for a component
overlay, but I would not like to see it
used for legs of a component that are
many per millimeter.

I guess though if you where after a solder
mask just for the pretty green colour - but
it was on big old dip packages then silk
screen would be plenty good enough.