Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil" <phil1960us@y...> wrote:
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "javaguy11111" 
> <javaguy11111@y...> wrote:
> ...
> > > 
> > I have this same kind of laminator. Assuming the packaging is the 
> same
> > there should have been a sheet of heavy paper included. I took
that
> > paper, folded it in half and put my two sided board inside and
solid
> > against the fold. Leave enough overhang so that when you feed
into 
> the
> > laminator the paper is grabbed first. Keep a tight grip on the 
> paper,
> > pc board sandwich until board is in between the rollers. If you
do 
> not
> > have the paper I have also used heavy construction paper. Ordinary
> > notebook paper tended to crumple up rather than coming out the
back.
> 
> I'll give it a try.  thanks. I leave about a 1" border on the paper 
> so there I can pull the small boards out.  I've not had any problem 
> with the paper getting caught in the machine.
> 
> > 
> > With this technique I have had no problems with maintaining 
> alignment.
> > This also comes in handy with boards that are too small to appear 
> out
> > the back side before it has fed all the way through. 
> 
> I saw about 5 mils of misalignment before I started tacking with
the 
> iron.
> 
> > With my boards I generally found it took any where from 6-10 
> passes. I
> > also  found it also useful with my larger boards to rotate the
board
> > so that different edges fed in first. This helped with problems
with
> > the edges not getting a good transfer.
> 
> Yeah, I flip my boards over for each pass.  I took careful notes of 
> my first 5 attempts.  On the 64 mil stuff, 12 passes wasn't enough 
> and 16 had some lifting of traces but 20 did it.  I wonder if
they've 
> tweaked the design or its normal variation in manufacturing.
> 
> What kind of pcb material are you using? I'm using 0.064 FR4 1 oz

I am using .064 FR4 1oz as well. I use PNP Blue for the transfer. I
use 30gauge wire with a .015 bit for most through holes and have had
no problems with getting a good enough alignment. When I align I use a
small light table and a microscope.