Homebrew PCBs

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/message/30264;_ylc=X3oDMTJyNG9iaWtzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzQ1MDUzNjEEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDgzMjkxBG1zZ0lkAzMwMjY0BHNlYwNkbXNnBHNsawN2bXNnBHN0aW1lAzEzNDAzODEwODc->

Steve, howdy from Oregon !

Thanks so much for your informative reply.

As mentioned, I've already spent some time at the massmind site.  I am 
appreciative of him collecting and webbing that info, yet your word 
'chaotic' was well-chosen I think... :)

To my knowledge, there was no summary/list of printer models there.  
I.e., in order of desirability, and why.

That's what I was hoping someone here had put together.

I wasn't looking so much for someone to "tell me how to do it"...but 
rather, for someone to have DONE it, and ship me the finished printer 
and drivers/utilities packaged; ready to make boards.  I'm feeling a bit 
of time-pressure on this alt-energy project I'm helping out with.  I'd 
thoroughly enjoy going through the whole sourcing/learning/modifying 
process myself....but the hours required by the AE thing are already 
'project' enough to fill my plate.

If I'm reading between your lines correctly, I may print in the CD tray 
without ANY modification to the printer.  Just get or make the fixture 
and get the right ink-cart.  Is that correct?  In terms of 
windows-utilities to de-dither and give me straight/solid lines and 
scaling adjustments for accurate fab...I read of such a utility, 
although I don't have the name handy.

Is that utility at a generally-usable / functional state of dev now? 
(that's the impression I received in my reading).  And will that utility 
take Gerber as input?  Or is it working with whatever the Epson 
windows-print-driver puts out?  In other words, I can use the 
utility/printer with -any- program / filetype that I can print via 
windoze....have I grasped it right?

If I can print to CD-tray right away with zero mods, then I'll hit 
craigslist and get a printer.  I can at least get started on the smaller 
modules I need to do.  Yet before spending time and money, I would 
REALLY like to know which model# is 'best'.  In the listing you kindly 
included, you mentioned only one Artisan...a '50'.  Are you saying 
that's the only 'Artisan' model that's suitable, or has a cd-tray?   As 
I mentioned, that's the one I saw listed on massmind, and went searching 
for, but I found a dozen different model# Artisans on CL, and none of 
them were a '50'.  I think all had 3-digit model#'s.  At least, what the 
sellers listed in the ads.  Nobody bothers these days to include what an 
item says on its rear-panel tag...sigh... :)

I'll certainly join that group you pointed me towards...thanks for that.

In the meantime, If you'd be kind enough to clarify about the Artisan 
models, and offer your opinion on which of all epson models is 'best' 
(robustness, capability, etc.), and briefly why, I'd be very grateful.  
Oh, and confirm my understanding on the windoze driver/utility situation 
as well.  With just this stuff, I can be off and running for small 
boards right away.

thanks again Steve....appreciate your help!

Ricardo

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