Homebrew PCBs

OK now that its getting possible, and ppl are trying inks, how about a
thread of compatible printers..


Here's my favourite...

http://www.digitaljournal.com/photo/040218Stylus900.jpg

The Epson stylus photo 900 cd printer, flat path, optically aligns the
cd tray so that's one job done for us!
I think it will be ok for double sided boards.

The standard tray is about 5mm thick and the printer has a lever to
allow for this, another job done for us.......

Takes pigment ink, uses 1270/80/90 cartridges, and a continuous ink
system is on sale so that may help save on cartridge filling / purge
cycles etc

Seems to me to be the ideal one for the job.......

I rate it number one,


-- 



Lez

- Looking for early starwars (episode 4, original starwars)
recordings, even pirate
-
- I dont need your originals just some information about running time
- and scene cut points
-
-
- also looking for a car, silver or white, 4 doors -
- diesel with a bosch pump, abs and pas  -
- aircon would be nice, and not a ford       -

On Sat, 13 May 2006 12:32:06 +0200, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:

> The Epson stylus photo 900 cd printer,

> Seems to me to be the ideal one for the job.......
> I rate it number one,


Yea, but it may well be useless because nobody has tried printing PCBs  
with mispro ink.
There is no point in favouring any printers as long as it is not known if  
they are suitable in the most important thing, if they can print PCBs well.

So calling this printer compatible is a bit premature. However it sure  
seems like a very good choice to try out, especially for those who are  
afraid of mechanically modifying a printer to be suitable for PCBs.

I hope this model will be tried by someone.

maybe we can make a database table for them?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/database>

I set it so every member can edit the whole thing, feel free to add  
columns or change things, especially in the beginning when there are few  
entries to update.

ST

Good news - maybe.  The one project that had to get done this weekend 
is nearing completion.  That means without any more "problems", I 
should be able to work on my printer some more.

Right now, when I power up the Epson Sylus 850, I get all LEDs 
blinking which, according tot he service manuals means a paper jam.  I 
am sure it is trying to rotate the shaft on the paper feeder where it 
is looking at a slotted disc/sensor.  I also do not have the printer 
connected to a computer at this time.  

If anyone has any suggestions as to what sequence might be needed on 
that sensor, it would be a big help.  

Once I get past that step, I should be able to run a PCB through it as 
I believe I have made enough clearances everywhere for it to feed 
through.  Load up some ink and give it a go!

Chris

On 13/05/06, Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...> wrote:
> On Sat, 13 May 2006 12:32:06 +0200, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:
>
> > The Epson stylus photo 900 cd printer,
>
> > Seems to me to be the ideal one for the job.......
> > I rate it number one,
>
>
> Yea, but it may well be useless because nobody has tried printing PCBs
> with mispro ink.

Ehh, whats volkan using? thought he was. (note to self, read and learn)


> There is no point in favouring any printers as long as it is not known if
> they are suitable in the most important thing, if they can print PCBs well.

Well I have tried it, it works with cheap dye ink cartridges at 1/10
the cost of an epson cart, but washes off if you try to etch etc.

So, printer prints onto boards, now I need to put the right ink in it.
I am also going to buy a continuous ink system for it, but thats
costing about $100 / 50ukp so I would like ot have got a test out of
it with real ink first.......

On Sat, 13 May 2006 14:41:08 +0200, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:

>> Yea, but it may well be useless because nobody has tried printing PCBs
>> with mispro ink.
> Ehh, whats volkan using? thought he was. (note to self, read and learn)
>

I'll change the wording on that to "nobody has tried printing PCBs with  
mispro ink in this printer".

>> There is no point in favouring any printers as long as it is not known  
>> if
>> they are suitable in the most important thing, if they can print PCBs  
>> well.

> Well I have tried it, it works with cheap dye ink cartridges at 1/10
> the cost of an epson cart, but washes off if you try to etch etc.
> So, printer prints onto boards, now I need to put the right ink in it.
> I am also going to buy a continuous ink system for it, but thats
> costing about $100 / 50ukp so I would like ot have got a test out of
> it with real ink first.......


Ok, if the printout with the dye carts came out without puddling and no  
gaps between printed lines then you have the best of chances that it will  
work the same with mispro ink.

CFS systems don't need to cost that much, that's only ripoff prices. As i  
understand it it's only a couple of hoses (buy ribbon hose when you order  
mispro ink at inksupply.com, only a few $ per meter.), which are attached  
to the cartridges and stick into the bottles. My understanding is as ink  
goes out the head new ink is pulled through the hose, so the hose would  
need to be completely filled for a start and the sponge somewhat full as  
well. If you also observe Steve's comments on ink level in CFS a while ago  
you should be set to go.

ST