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Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Pulsar PCB Fab System. Any good?

2010-01-08 by DJ Delorie

I don't know if I'm the "godfather" here, I learned a lot from others
too...

Anyway, I've got Pulsar's system and it works just fine, within the
limits of what your laser printer can do.  Mine scatters the toner a
little, which leaves me with bumpy traces and limits me to 8 mil or so
reliably.  Two-sided is a little tricky, but there's ways to make it
work too.  Also, make sure your paper is humid enough - ten seconds
over a sink full of hot water is enough.

The TRF/sponge trick works *very* well.  Heat up the FeCl a bit (I use
a hot water bath), pour it in a cut up milk jug, and use the sponge to
wipe it on the PCB.  Etches in under a minute, and you can control
over-etch by only wiping the parts that need it.  Now if only it
weren't FeCl...  ;-)

Another catch is today's high-temperature toners, like Brother.  I
ended up modding my laminator to be digitally-temperature-controlled
so I could set it hotter for toner and colder for UV film.

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