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RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] Electrostatic Toner Transfer

2004-11-10 by Leon Heller

>From: "gettingalongwouldbenice" <gettingalongwouldbenice@...>
>Reply-To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Electrostatic Toner Transfer
>Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 11:43:47 -0000
>
>
>
>Electrostatic toner transfer.
>
>I'm disturbed by the lack of specificity on the web, so pardon
>me if I go overboard trying to communicate what I did.
>
>I wasn't getting anywhere with the problem of clay adhesion
>from Staples Picture Paper, so I decided to try another.
>
>I cut a page from Electronic Engineering Times Magazine.
>I stuffed it into an HP Laserjet 4L with HP92274A standard
>toner.  I used the default printer settings.
>
>The paper was too thin, so It got stuck in the printer prior to
>fusing.  I pulled it out and decided that this was a "sign" from
>wherever signs come from.
>
>Here's the stack for electrostatic transfer.
>Insulation layer on the table.
>Piece of aluminum foil for the negative electrode.
>Paper with unfused toner image facing up.
>Layer of copier paper .004" thick around the perimeter of the image.
>Strip of aluminum foil for positive electrode.
>Copper circuit board face down contacting the positive electrode.

The original Xerox flat-bed copiers could be used for making PCBs in a 
similar manner, transferring the toner from the photoreceptor plate to the 
copper. When I worked for Rank-Xerox many years ago, I remember reading a 
document describing the technique. I saw some boards made using the process; 
it was OK for simple prototypes but nowhere near as good as the photographic 
techniques used at the time.

Leon

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