Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Marko Pavlin <mp@...> wrote:
>
> Here's one interesting article:
> 
> http://www.smtnet.com/adsystem/redir.cfm?adid=1611
> 
> I think it could be simplified for hombrew applications.
> 
> Marko
>


This is pretty cool all right. Someone here a while back had the idea
of putting a UV diode on a plotter for direct exposing. Almost the
same idea but with with University $$$, a much better 'diode' is used
here.  Very cool though and impressive results.

I had an old HP7221 plotter way back (actually had a big electrostatic
table to hold the paper and then it moved the pen in both x & y
directions ... really fun to watch :-) ). I finally parted with it
when I got a new 'better' plotter.  Wish I had kept it now, would have
been perfect for trying something like this. A UV diode with a simple
lens would make a fine point and have enough concentration of the
energy to expose the mask on a slow draw rate I bet. You know, it
would be easy enough to test on a simple x/y machinists vise. Just fix
the diode with lens over a board and crank by hand to draw a test
trace ... or even just pulling the board under the diode by hand would
give a good idea of the drawing speed needed and if it works.

Phil
KA0HBG