Homebrew PCBs

> For exactly one pass through the laminator, what would be the optimal temperature?

My modified laminator runs up to 250C and even than needs multiple passes for a large 11” x 8” double sized 1.6mm PCB (thermal capacity of PCB too high).  A small 0.8mm PCB will work in one pass at 250C.

Even with a metal case this is pushing the limits (I had to recover the rollers with glass fibre shrink-fit and cover that with PTFE shrink-fit).

Overall a single pass temperature setting for a large board would be so high as to kill even PTFE covered rollers, and would probably overcook the first part of the board.

There are more exotic roller coverings than PTFE but the price would make your eyes water copiously (think hundreds of pounds).

I think that a solution similar to Ancel’s where the roller speeds are modified and driven in a forward/backward manner is probably the best.

FWIW I only do laser transfer now for the LARGE boards that would be too costly from a PCB supply house.

Dave