Homebrew_PCBs

Hi,

I am trying to make PCBs using the Toner Transfer Method with cloth
Iron. About a month back, I took afew Laser Printouts of the layouts
and on the same day I made use of one of the printouts and made a PCB
and it was a great success.

Now, yesterday, i.e. about a month after I took the printouts, I took
them off the cover and cut out another of the layouts and tried to
make a PCB and it was a disaster. The edges got registered into the
copperclad but the center portion never registered and air got trapped
in the middle. I scratched off all the toner, cleaned the board very
well and then tried again with another printout I had from my month
old printouts and it was again a disaster. After about six takes, all
my printouts got exhausted.

I cannot find any reason why it should fail. The surface was clean and
the heat applied was okay. Could it be that the toner got stuck on the
paper very well since it is one month since I took it? I have never
read anywhere that the PCBs should be made *right after* taking
printouts. Should it be the case? I am anyway going to try a fresh
printout (I do not have a printer at my disposal, have to go and take
it at a shop afew kilometers away) tomorrow.

Thanks
--
Ramakrishnan - VU3RDD
http://www.zerobeat.in

err, water vapour absorbed by paper 'gassing' when heated?

Maybe store next ones in a airtight bag with a bag of sillica crystals.

On 31/03/06, Ramakrishnan Muthukrishnan <vu3rdd@...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am trying to make PCBs using the Toner Transfer Method with cloth
> Iron. About a month back, I took afew Laser Printouts of the layouts
> and on the same day I made use of one of the printouts and made a PCB
> and it was a great success.
>
> Now, yesterday, i.e. about a month after I took the printouts, I took
> them off the cover and cut out another of the layouts and tried to
> make a PCB and it was a disaster. The edges got registered into the
> copperclad but the center portion never registered and air got trapped
> in the middle. I scratched off all the toner, cleaned the board very
> well and then tried again with another printout I had from my month
> old printouts and it was again a disaster. After about six takes, all
> my printouts got exhausted.
>
> I cannot find any reason why it should fail. The surface was clean and
> the heat applied was okay. Could it be that the toner got stuck on the
> paper very well since it is one month since I took it? I have never
> read anywhere that the PCBs should be made *right after* taking
> printouts. Should it be the case? I am anyway going to try a fresh
> printout (I do not have a printer at my disposal, have to go and take
> it at a shop afew kilometers away) tomorrow.
>
> Thanks
> --
> Ramakrishnan - VU3RDD
> http://www.zerobeat.in
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
> If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


--



Lez

Probably.. Today I took fresh printouts and the results were much
better though I couldn't make usable PCBs even after three attempts.
Now I have to try with PnP blue instead of the glossy paper.

On 4/1/06, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:
> err, water vapour absorbed by paper 'gassing' when heated?
>
> Maybe store next ones in a airtight bag with a bag of sillica crystals.
>
>
>
> On 31/03/06, Ramakrishnan Muthukrishnan <vu3rdd@...> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am trying to make PCBs using the Toner Transfer Method with cloth
> > Iron. About a month back, I took afew Laser Printouts of the layouts
> > and on the same day I made use of one of the printouts and made a PCB
> > and it was a great success.
> >
> > Now, yesterday, i.e. about a month after I took the printouts, I took
> > them off the cover and cut out another of the layouts and tried to
> > make a PCB and it was a disaster. The edges got registered into the
> > copperclad but the center portion never registered and air got trapped
> > in the middle. I scratched off all the toner, cleaned the board very
> > well and then tried again with another printout I had from my month
> > old printouts and it was again a disaster. After about six takes, all
> > my printouts got exhausted.
> >
> > I cannot find any reason why it should fail. The surface was clean and
> > the heat applied was okay. Could it be that the toner got stuck on the
> > paper very well since it is one month since I took it? I have never
> > read anywhere that the PCBs should be made *right after* taking
> > printouts. Should it be the case? I am anyway going to try a fresh
> > printout (I do not have a printer at my disposal, have to go and take
> > it at a shop afew kilometers away) tomorrow.
> >
> > Thanks
> > --
> > Ramakrishnan - VU3RDD
> > http://www.zerobeat.in
> >
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> >
> > If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Lez
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
> If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


--
Ramakrishnan - VU3RDD
http://www.zerobeat.in

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Ramakrishnan Muthukrishnan"
<vu3rdd@...> wrote:

>
> Probably.. Today I took fresh printouts and the results were much
> better though I couldn't make usable PCBs even after three attempts.
> Now I have to try with PnP blue instead of the glossy paper.

You will get trapped air with the PnP too. Best way to solve this is
to cut slits in the paper or PnP with an x-acto knife in as many
places that don't have toner as possible, and also within large areas
of toner. This will make the transfer come out far better. Also, start
at one edge of the board, only about half an inch, then lift the other
edge of the transfer sheet up, and slowly move from one end to the
other. This will also minimize trapped air. (as opposed to simply
laying it flat and putting the iron right in the center of it)