Homebrew PCBs

Hello all,
            I am a new member here and I am very interested in the direct
resist to PCB methods that I have seen here.

I am also an ex electronics technician (some time ago) and I have had
extensive experience maintaining the higher end printers. Mostly colour
lasers and solid ink/hot wax printers but also many of the cheaper ink jet
printers. I am hoping that I can make a valuable contribution to this list.

Many years ago (about 8 to 10) I attempted to use a ink jet printer to do
what others have been successful with here. I never completed the task as I
could not get ink with resist qualities to work. In hindsight the project
would never have worked as I chose a printer that used thermal print jets
rather than piezoelectric.

From what I have read recently (please correct me if I am wrong), I need to
use an Epson printer as they are the only ones that use piezoelectric ink
jets?

Will the cheaper Epson printers that use die inks also work (with the
correct ink for resist) or do I specifically need to buy one that is already
made to work with pigment inks? In other words - will the print heads made
for die inks also work with pigment inks?

It seems that the only inks that have been useful are Epson DURABrite
magenta and MIS PRO yellow. Is this correct?

I live in Australia and there is no outlet that I can find for MIS PRO inks.
Is there an retail outlet that anyone is aware of in Australia or some where
else online that I can order MIS PRO ink from without a credit card?

I want to create digital electronics PCB's so I need to be at least able to
get down to 7 thou tracks with 12 thou clearance.

I have no trouble modifying electronics and creating the mechanics for a
flat bed printer. From a printer what I really need is the print head /
cartridge assembly and PC interface. I can make the rest and modify the
electronic to work with different stepper motors and sensors.

I really need a good starting point in choosing a printer. The cheaper the
better.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Robert.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, <listgroups08@...> wrote:
>
> 
>  Hello all,
>             I am a new member here and I am very interested in the
direct
> resist to PCB methods that I have seen here.
> 
> I am also an ex electronics technician (some time ago) and I have had
> extensive experience maintaining the higher end printers. Mostly colour
> lasers and solid ink/hot wax printers but also many of the cheaper
ink jet
> printers. I am hoping that I can make a valuable contribution to
this list.
> 
> Many years ago (about 8 to 10) I attempted to use a ink jet printer
to do
> what others have been successful with here. I never completed the
task as I
> could not get ink with resist qualities to work. In hindsight the
project
> would never have worked as I chose a printer that used thermal print
jets
> rather than piezoelectric.
> 
> From what I have read recently (please correct me if I am wrong), I
need to
> use an Epson printer as they are the only ones that use
piezoelectric ink
> jets?

Yes, this is correct. That is the short answer.

> Will the cheaper Epson printers that use die inks also work (with the
> correct ink for resist) or do I specifically need to buy one that is
already
> made to work with pigment inks? In other words - will the print
heads made
> for die inks also work with pigment inks?

Simple answer, get an Epson that already uses pigmented inks. Less
simple answer, get any Epson dye ink printer and use pigmented in
place of the dye inks.

> It seems that the only inks that have been useful are Epson DURABrite
> magenta and MIS PRO yellow. Is this correct?

Hopefully someone will answer this one.

Steve Greenfield

I am doing some basic testing with "Ink-owl" brand pigmented ink. It
can be found on ebay and ships worldwide.

The yellow works best by far. Magenta a distant second, cyan, and then
black which doesn't work at all.

Price is ~$50 for 4x120mL (4x4oz) CYMK. I am checking if the seller
will offer only yellow ink, as there is no point in buying all 4 colors.

Most likely the MIS PRO is better though.