Homebrew PCBs

A small update on my "direct-to-PCB" printing experiments: 

1. I have tested the $4 Epson C86 printer.  I had to replace the three 
color cartridges because they were empty. ($9 each!) After a couple of 
cleaning cycles with the new cartridges, and a pass through the head 
alignment process, it is printing fine.  I verified by printing one of 
my vacation photos on Photo paper.  Looks pretty nice. (BTW, the 
cartridges are down to 89% ALREADY!  This is INSANE. I have installed 
the SSC printer utility.  I notice it has options for interfacing to a 
homemade chip resetter.  Looks pretty useful.  Anyway, with CIS, I 
hope I won't have to bother.)

2. I have received the (so-called) $12 CIS system.  It looks like it 
could actually work.  Haven't installed it yet. 

3. I have received the MIS Pro Inks.  2 Fluid Oz sure is a LOT of ink. 

All right, so I really didn't accomplish much on this over the 
weekend. And it seems a little excessive to have bought the new 
cartridges (when I have the CIS system sitting there.) But I have to 
proceed one step at a time...since all the equipment is new to me.  I 
wanted to make sure the printer actually worked...BEFORE I started 
changing over to CIS. (Or ripping off the plastic to get a straight-
through feed, etc...) 

Jim

Sounds like you are taking the right steps. The last thing you want to do is
start hacking away on the plastic, before everything else is in place.

Glad to see there is still some work being done. After the inital intense
interest, 2 months (?) later there isn't much success.

Myc

On 6/19/06, jzmuda2000 <hwhacker@...> wrote:
>
>   A small update on my "direct-to-PCB" printing experiments:
>
> 1. I have tested the $4 Epson C86 printer. I had to replace the three
> color cartridges because they were empty. ($9 each!) After a couple of
> cleaning cycles with the new cartridges, and a pass through the head
> alignment process, it is printing fine. I verified by printing one of
> my vacation photos on Photo paper. Looks pretty nice. (BTW, the
> cartridges are down to 89% ALREADY! This is INSANE. I have installed
> the SSC printer utility. I notice it has options for interfacing to a
> homemade chip resetter. Looks pretty useful. Anyway, with CIS, I
> hope I won't have to bother.)
>
> 2. I have received the (so-called) $12 CIS system. It looks like it
> could actually work. Haven't installed it yet.
>
> 3. I have received the MIS Pro Inks. 2 Fluid Oz sure is a LOT of ink.
>
> All right, so I really didn't accomplish much on this over the
> weekend. And it seems a little excessive to have bought the new
> cartridges (when I have the CIS system sitting there.) But I have to
> proceed one step at a time...since all the equipment is new to me. I
> wanted to make sure the printer actually worked...BEFORE I started
> changing over to CIS. (Or ripping off the plastic to get a straight-
> through feed, etc...)
>
> Jim
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] De la part de Myc Holmes
> Envoyé : juin 19 2006 13:18
> À : Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Objet : Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Setup for direct to PCB printing 
> using Epson&MISPro Ink (cont)
> 
> 
> Sounds like you are taking the right steps. The last thing 
> you want to do is start hacking away on the plastic, before 
> everything else is in place.
> 
> Glad to see there is still some work being done. After the 
> inital intense interest, 2 months (?) later there isn't much success.
> 
> Myc


I agree, it's better you proceed in an orderly fashion.

I'm being held up with other concerns right now, but I'm hoping to hit the
C84 soon.

Robert
:)

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 18:37:24 +0200, jzmuda2000 <hwhacker@...> wrote:

>
> 3. I have received the MIS Pro Inks.  2 Fluid Oz sure is a LOT of ink.


Not really that much, in number of refills.

You didn't need the new carts, no. You could've injected some distilled  
water just to see if they are printing allright, that's what i did anyway.

Anyone use the reset tool in the SSC software? What's it do and what  
hardware does it expect?

Good to hear someone else is working on it. I have loads to do but i fully  
expect to at least attempt to already make the next PCBs with it. Those  
will be made this weekend.

ST

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] De la part de Stefan Trethan
> Envoyé : juin 19 2006 13:46
> À : Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Objet : Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Setup for direct to PCB printing 
> using Epson&MISPro Ink (cont)
> 
> 
> 
...
> Anyone use the reset tool in the SSC software? What's it do and what  
> hardware does it expect?
> 
...
> 
> ST


I think there is something on the SSC site for a circuit that connects to
the parallel port (or was it the serial port?).  I haven't been there in a
month so I'm not sure.

Robert
:)

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:54:52 +0200, Robert Hedan  
<robert.hedan@videotron.ca> wrote:

>
> I think there is something on the SSC site for a circuit that connects to
> the parallel port (or was it the serial port?).  I haven't been there in  
> a
> month so I'm not sure.
> Robert
> :)


I found it in the help file, it is parallel.
I will try if this tool also works with the whole stack of chips.

ST

It is really good to hear that some of us trying to do direct inkjet printing. I was started to believe that I am lonely in this planet. 
 BTW, I am only using direct inkjet printing and no more toner transfer. It is much easier and much more reliable than TT. 
 Volkan

>....Glad to see there is still some work being done. After the inital intense 
 >interest, 2 months (?) later there isn't much success. 
  >Myc

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] De la part de Volkan Sahin
> Envoyé : juin 19 2006 17:40
> À : Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Objet : Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Setup for direct to PCB printing 
> using Epson&MISPro Ink (cont)
> 
> 
>   It is really good to hear that some of us trying to do 
> direct inkjet printing. I was started to believe that I am 
> lonely in this planet. 
>  BTW, I am only using direct inkjet printing and no more 
> toner transfer. It is much easier and much more reliable than TT. 
>  Volkan


I'll be joining you soon Volkan.  I'm concentrating on getting a basic
prototype of my project working first.  It seems I'm an idiot when it comes
to transferring my breadboard layout into QCAD.  I'll be starting my 3rd
attempt tonight, hopefully the last.

I'll continue working on the C84 right after while I'll start working on the
more complex software components.  I have a database to design, Visual Basic
components and USB interface to work on.   I'll be getting a lot of
head-aches then and the C84 will be a welcome break.

Robert
:)