Homebrew PCBs

Actually teh Epsaon 1520 might work. I learned that it is the screen 
printer's favorite and the larger model Epson 3000. The waterproof 
colors is a right direction to go and the problem with regular inks 
was that they do bead, like you noticed and thus lines are not solid. 
They also wash off in water.

Perosnally, the whole discussion got me to start my proect with 
plotter. Anazingly, I was able to 'retrofit' an ink pen in 5 minutes. 
I am using HP type ink pens with fiber tips which is not a great 
resolution but it might be enough for quick prototypes. Procedure: 
remove the cap of the plotter pen by prying the cap with exacto 
knife. Remove the piece of felt that sits inside (don't worry about 
your fingers, it's protected in plastic sleeve). Open a Sharpie pan 
by grabbing the pen with pliers and remove the felt core (also 
contained in plastic). Cau the same amount as needed, and stick it 
into a reworked plotter pen. Replace the caps on both pens. You are 
done. No need to flush the old ink as the black overrode my initial 
yellow. I was amazed how swift the operation was. using an xy Roland 
plotter. The problem? The fiber pen is way too thick. The solution? I 
may have used and old ink pen that had a flattened fiber tip. I 
pulled out the fiber tip from the plotter pen and stuck it form the 
other end back into the pen. The tip is sharp and probably was 
designed to be used as a replacement. I can draw very nice lines now. 
Added bonus? Possibly I can press the tip deeper to 'compensate' for 
the PCB thickness. Mike



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@y...> 
wrote:
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan
> <stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> 
> > maybe we should try the ink which is alerady in the cartridge?
> > why won't it work? i think it is water resistant.
> > 
> > you already have the bj200 so it does not hurt to try.
> > but i bet it will not work ;-).
> 
> Some of the Canon black ink is pigmented, but all of the color ink 
is
> dye based and runs at the slightest hint of moisture unless on 
special
> paper.
> 
> It also beads up like mad on glossy non-inkjet surfaces. I've tried.
> 
> > as said i see only a chance with the piezo jet,
> > and then there i see a huge load of problems coming...
> 
> Hey! Pigmented inks for Epson printers are waterfast, or at least
> water resistant.
> 
> The big problem is that standard inkjet inks don't stick well unless
> the surface is treated with something. And that kinda subverts 
etching
> if the board has a coating.
> 
> However- pigmented inks can print on glossy paper, they just take
> forever to dry. No reason you can't heat the board to dry the ink.
> 
> That Epson 800 (non-color version) that I have is still sitting here
> without an ink tank. However, I am about to fit an Epson 1520 with
> pigmented inks. It has a straight through paper path and should feed
> some of the very thin double-sided PCB I have here. I'll scrub it up
> with plastic scrubber and a degreaser like Comet, as if to do toner
> transfer. Then I think I may heat the board before printing on it,
> then maybe set it on a warmer plate to dry.
> 
> Most of the new Epson models like the C84 use their new resin coated
> pigmented inks that are made to work better with glossy paper, so 
they
> may work better than generic pigmented inks or older Epson pigmented
> printers like the C80, C82, 1280, etc. But 3rd party pigmented inks
> are -much- cheaper.
> 
> Steve