Homebrew PCBs

You're correct, this group is really great, it is my favorite group. I feel
that the people in this group are innovators par excellence! Plus, seeing
all the Hams in the group makes me want to look into learning more about
amateur radio. I really respect amateur radio.

My favorite printer in the HP p1505. You can pick up a used one or even a
new one for $200 or less. There are even cheaper laser printers out there,
but this one is compact, the print quality is really great, and it works
under CUPS. It also prints cheap magazine paper. You can also pick up refill
toner for $22 on Amazon.

My problem has been repeatable results. This is why I ordered PCB in a box
from Pulsarfx to try out their system. They have a good website and they
seem like they care about getting their customers comfortable with making
homebrew PCB's. I think my main problem is my iron. It does not heat evenly
and my boards are too large for it. I sometimes get splattered traces due to
uneven pressure from the iron.

My other issue has been ferric chloride etchant. I hate it and I have
switched to H2O2 and muriatic acid. But these pulsarfx guys says that a
sponge with a few ounces of ferric Cl can be enough to etch 1/2 oz copper. I
still don't like using weird substances that can harm the environment.

those are my thoughts,

Chris



On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 2:14 PM, John <jferrell13@...> wrote:

>
>
> The wealth of information in this group is overwhelming me!
>
> I would like to avoid buying into the process with supplies and equipment
> that are not going to work.
>
> Are there any particular copiers/printers/toners that are known not to work
> for toner transfer for PCB's?
>
> I am thinking of buying an inexpensive laser printer to cut down on the ink
> expense anyway.
>
> It would seem to me that if it is really all that easy to do I could use
> even a toner copier and simply copy an ink jet copy with the toner copier. I
> gather that one of the key elements is to have control of the paper that the
> copier is using.
>
>  
>


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