Homebrew PCBs

Seems like a pen might not be ideal.  What about an inkjet head
attached to a cnc?

The reason for the CNC is that I already have a CNC with .0001"
repeatable resolution which means I don't need to do anything.

If you don't have CNC, you can build one pretty easily and it has a
lot of other useful features.

Anyway, I can set an M function in the G-code to trip a relay to turn
the ink on and off.

All I need to do is figure out how to turn the inkjet head on and off.

I know some people have modified an inkjet to take larger stock but I
haven't seen a mod which basically tells the ink jet head to shoot
ink.

After I figure out how to turn ink on and off, all I have to do is
position the Z axis to a useable distance away from the plate and let
it run.

I have several DXF-> G-code converters made for nesting parts for
laser cutting/milling so the programming the XY movement is no
problem.

Can someone point me to some resources that basically takes an inkjet
head and turns it into a mini watergun with on/off control?  From my
understanding, there's a small piezoelectric disk that when you apply
a voltage shoots a bubble.  Is it as simple as hooking up a wire with
TTL logic from the inkjet head to an empty M function relay on my CNC?

This would also be very cool as I figure out how the inkjet head
works, perhaps I can fill it with some sort two part glue instead of
ink.  Two inkjet heads would shoot to the same spot making a hard
cured epoxy spot.  Voila -> cheap 3d printer with a HUGE print area!

Thanks.
Henry
www.fullspectrumengineering.com

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Henry Liu" <henryjliu@...> wrote:
>
> Seems like a pen might not be ideal.  What about an inkjet head
> attached to a cnc?
> 
> The reason for the CNC is that I already have a CNC with .0001"
> repeatable resolution which means I don't need to do anything.
> 
> If you don't have CNC, you can build one pretty easily and it has a
> lot of other useful features.
> 
> Anyway, I can set an M function in the G-code to trip a relay to turn
> the ink on and off.
> 
> All I need to do is figure out how to turn the inkjet head on and off.
> 
> I know some people have modified an inkjet to take larger stock but I
> haven't seen a mod which basically tells the ink jet head to shoot
> ink.

A gentleman named Fogassa is building a 3D printer using a Lexmark. He
is not using the printer electronics to run the head, he's using his
own drivers and firmware.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/diy_3d_printing_and_fabrication/

Steve Greenfield

Hi PCBers,  Mostly lurking, but thought I'd comment on this thread. 
Have U ever heard of MicroPen?  I used to work with their equipment
about 10yrs ago.  I was depositing gold traces on 2in x 2" ceramic
substrates.  MicroPen could also do resististance lines with a "carbon
ink".  Also, could do insulative ink for crossing over the gold lines
with other gold lines.  I believe the company is still in business(?)
 U would need an X/Y table with a Z-axis dispenser.  The ink came in
little syringes and had date-codes like solder-paste.  For a small
pcb, this would be great.  I could put 3 or 4 teeny tiny lines between
.1 centers easily.  The system had a built-in microscope-camera-color
monitor.  I thought it was really cool!!  I think a Sherline CNC mill
could be adapted.  I've been thinking of trying, but other things in
life seem to get in the way  :-p   PM me for more info/chat  T


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@...> wrote:

>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Henry Liu" <henryjliu@> wrote:
> >
> > Seems like a pen might not be ideal.  What about an inkjet head
> > attached to a cnc?
> > 
> > The reason for the CNC is that I already have a CNC with .0001"
> > repeatable resolution which means I don't need to do anything.
> > 
> > If you don't have CNC, you can build one pretty easily and it has a
> > lot of other useful features.
> > 
> > Anyway, I can set an M function in the G-code to trip a relay to turn
> > the ink on and off.
> > 
> > All I need to do is figure out how to turn the inkjet head on and off.
> > 
> > I know some people have modified an inkjet to take larger stock but I
> > haven't seen a mod which basically tells the ink jet head to shoot
> > ink.
> 
> A gentleman named Fogassa is building a 3D printer using a Lexmark. He
> is not using the printer electronics to run the head, he's using his
> own drivers and firmware.
> 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/diy_3d_printing_and_fabrication/
> 
> Steve Greenfield
>

What is wrong with sharing it here? I'm sure a lot of us would like 
to hear about this.

Steve Greenfield


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "TonyB" <tbarros@...> wrote:
>
> Hi PCBers,  Mostly lurking, but thought I'd comment on this thread. 
> Have U ever heard of MicroPen?  I used to work with their equipment
> about 10yrs ago.  I was depositing gold traces on 2in x 2" ceramic
> substrates.  MicroPen could also do resististance lines with a 
"carbon
> ink".  Also, could do insulative ink for crossing over the gold 
lines
> with other gold lines.  I believe the company is still in business
(?)
>  U would need an X/Y table with a Z-axis dispenser.  The ink came in
> little syringes and had date-codes like solder-paste.  For a small
> pcb, this would be great.  I could put 3 or 4 teeny tiny lines 
between
> .1 centers easily.  The system had a built-in microscope-camera-
color
> monitor.  I thought it was really cool!!  I think a Sherline CNC 
mill

> could be adapted.  I've been thinking of trying, but other things in
> life seem to get in the way  :-p   PM me for more info/chat  T
> 
>

The last posting reminded me of the air pen.  

http://www.silkpaint.com/airpen/

Which looks remarkably like the Micropen that Tony referred to.

http://www.micropen.com/

Not to be confused with the Cross Micropen nor with PDA styluses. ;')

Steve Greenfield

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "John Kent" <moonshadow@...> wrote:

>
> 
> The last posting reminded me of the air pen.  
> 
> http://www.silkpaint.com/airpen/