Homebrew PCBs

I attended a seminar at a computer show hosted by a local college 
professor, titled "how to roll your own printed circuit boards".

He was using the toner transfer method with limited success (without 
using photopaper).  Then goes into explain a 100% reliable method.

Using geletin (found at the supermarket) just plain geletin, used for 
making jello.  The directions call for "2 cups" of water, he said use 
about 8 cups of water.  Mix well.  Then, brush-on the geletin mix 
onto PLAIN pieces of printer paper.  Let dry.  This will cover the 
paper with a very thin layer.

Once the papers are dry they are ready to be printed on.  Run them 
thru the laser printer.  Then iron them to the copper boards.  He 
says, once the heat of the iron hits the geletin, it will melt and 
vaporize.  The toner transfers and sticks right to the copper.

He then says the boards have to go into an oven @ 250 (F) for 1 
hour.  I think he does that so that the toner adheres solid to the 
copper board.  I think with enough iron-heat and pressure, you dont 
need to bake it but I dont know too much about that I havent had that 
much experience with toner transfer.

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "docstein99" <docstein99@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 6:59 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Toner transfer method - fix for using expensive 
photopaper


>I attended a seminar at a computer show hosted by a local college
> professor, titled "how to roll your own printed circuit boards".
>
> He was using the toner transfer method with limited success (without
> using photopaper).  Then goes into explain a 100% reliable method.
>
> Using geletin (found at the supermarket) just plain geletin, used for
> making jello.  The directions call for "2 cups" of water, he said use
> about 8 cups of water.  Mix well.  Then, brush-on the geletin mix
> onto PLAIN pieces of printer paper.  Let dry.  This will cover the
> paper with a very thin layer.
>
> Once the papers are dry they are ready to be printed on.  Run them
> thru the laser printer.  Then iron them to the copper boards.  He
> says, once the heat of the iron hits the geletin, it will melt and
> vaporize.  The toner transfers and sticks right to the copper.
>
> He then says the boards have to go into an oven @ 250 (F) for 1
> hour.  I think he does that so that the toner adheres solid to the
> copper board.  I think with enough iron-heat and pressure, you dont
> need to bake it but I dont know too much about that I havent had that
> much experience with toner transfer.

Something similar to that involved dextrin instead of gelatin, I think that 
Pulsar paper was made that way.

Leon

>> docstein wrote:
>>
>> <SNIP about toner transfer>
>>
>> Then goes into explain a 100% reliable
>> method. Using geletin
>>
>> <SNIP>

> Leon wrote:
>
> Something similar to that involved dextrin
> instead of gelatin, I think that Pulsar
> paper was made that way.

And another fellow here made use of gum
arabic (heat/moisture sensitive glue)

Now the thing that worries me is the geletin becomming unglued during 
the print process.  Not that I cant afford a whole other used laser 
printer for $10 at the flea market, but its the cost of a new toner 
cartridge that draws the line for me.

>  And another fellow here made use of gum
>  arabic (heat/moisture sensitive glue)

I tried that, didnt work for me, but maybe I use wrong paper (copier paper)