Homebrew PCBs

Phil - I too found the instructions without pictures frustrating, but
did manage to get the conversion done - but not as quickly as Frank
(Pulsar) predicted though.

I did have a problem Frank did not mention. The PCB's (64 thou) would
not go through most of the time! I did some damage to the rollers
though they seem to work ok in spite of that. Eventually I determined
that the two plates at the rear of the roller were too close together
and so were preventing the PCB's from passing. 

It was simple enough (when I finally figured it out) to shim the top
plate up (closer to the roller) at a slight angle with some little
pieces of 30 thou PCB, inserted at the two back retaining slots or
whatever you call them. Since then there has been no problem. I wonder
if some of your mechanical? problems might be related to that.

I have found that most of my PCB's only need one or two passes. Three
is the most I have ever used. The biggest board I have done so far is
about 2.7 by 5.2", so maybe that's a factor. Bigger boards will aborb
more heat, or need more heat to reach a given temperature than smaller
boards, right?

I know different toners have different melt/fuse temperatures. I am
using a Panasonic KXP-6500 laser printer, and the prescribed Panasonic
toner. I am using Pulsar (formerly Dyna-Art) paper. I am using 64 thou
PCB material (which is apparently only 60 thou, so maybe I did not
need to modify the thing).

Another possible variable is the preparation of the PCB surface - I
use SOS pads to remove oxidation, dirt and grease. They leave the
surface clean and shiny but with some scratching though that's really
not the right term, just that the copper is very slightly roughened.

I find that the laminator is much better than ironing for me, in terms
of consistency, and complete, undistorted toner transfer to the PCB.
It sounds like you are having a lot more frustration than I am. I hope
the group can figure out some solutions to these difficulties.

Grant

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil" <phil1960us@y...> wrote:
> Well, I finally broke down and bought one of these on sale from 
> Staples  ($65 + tax).  
> 
> Overall, I like it but it did take some getting used to and its far 
> from perfect.
[snip]