Homebrew PCBs

Just had another idea.
How about coating the PCB with a very thin layer of laser printer toner. A powder coating set up would work well for that i.e. uniform electrostatic attraction of the particles to the copper. Then use a laser diode on a CNC mill or flatbed plotter to fuse the resist to the board.
 I also thought that powder coat paint might work but it requires a long heat cycle to cure it properly.

It may be time to destroy an old CD burner and try this.

Any thoughts??

Sage

Copper is an amazing conductor of heat. Bringing the copper-touching toner to a fusible temperature without the laser-facing top layer vapourising would be very difficult.

That said, try it and report back! If it does work, it could be very useful.  I would start with a warmed PC board (close to but below fusing temperature) to minimise the loss.

And good luck.
Donald.
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----- Original Message -----

> From: "drsage2007" <davesage12@...>
> To: "Homebrew PCBs" <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:47:39 AM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Another approach for lasers
> Just had another idea.
> How about coating the PCB with a very thin layer of laser printer
> toner. A powder coating set up would work well for that i.e. uniform
> electrostatic attraction of the particles to the copper. Then use a
> laser diode on a CNC mill or flatbed plotter to fuse the resist to the
> board.
> I also thought that powder coat paint might work but it requires a
> long heat cycle to cure it properly.
> 
> It may be time to destroy an old CD burner and try this.
> 
> Any thoughts??
> 
> Sage
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
>

On Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:47:39 -0000, you wrote:

>Just had another idea.
>How about coating the PCB with a very thin layer of laser printer toner. A powder coating set up would work well for that i.e. uniform electrostatic attraction of the particles to the copper. Then use a laser diode on a CNC mill or flatbed plotter to fuse the resist to the board.
> I also thought that powder coat paint might work but it requires a long heat cycle to cure it properly.
>
>It may be time to destroy an old CD burner and try this.
>
>Any thoughts??
>
>Sage
>
Another idea from the twilight zone:
Could you apply reprap/3-d printer ideas to applying toner? Make an injector with
a really fine orifice (ss hypodermic tubing?) and load the extruder with toner powder.
What little I've read on reprap indicates the current designs work in the temperature 
range we would need. It wouldn't take much toner to do a whole board. 
Might need a heated platen to make things stick; maybe preheat to 300-350F. 
You might be able to "diddle" the temperature with lower temperature along the
edge to keep the line  sharp and hotter in the middle for better flow/coverage.
Would also have to hold the board pretty flat.

FWIW
Keith Bowers WB4LSJ- Thomasville, NC

Links some people may feel are worth viewing for ideas or inspiration re: various approaches, I found them interesting, it seems all of the parts to make this happen are out there;

shackspace wiki (info on a direct printed board, chemicals)
http://shackspace.de/wiki/doku.php?id=project:beta-layout:pcbprinter

CO2 Lazer PCB prototyping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMCjWslnM1A&feature=related

Direct to Copper PCB Etch-Resist Printing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DGUUoK_XTA&feature=endscreen

DIY Blu-ray Laser CNC Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEUGbagf5-4&feature=related

How to build a cheap 1000mW+ blue laser (good for links to parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptw4MGTCl8g&feature=related

EBAY: 40W CO2 LASER ENGRAVING CUTTING MACHINE ENGRAVER m7 BIN: $480
http://www.ebay.com/itm/40W-CO2-LASER-ENGRAVING-CUTTING-MACHINE-ENGRAVER-m7-/180709569590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a13213436#ht_13298wt_1396
Maximum Item Size to Engrave: 10.25W x 8.75L x 2.85H in
Minimum Shaping Character: 0.04 X0.04in (1mm X 1mm)
Resolution Ratio: 0.001 in (0.026mm) / (1000dpi)
Resetting Positioning: ≤0.0004 in (0.01mm)

And seemingly a huge number of similar videos are out there.

-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Donald H Locker
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:20 AM
To: Homebrew PCBs
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Another approach for lasers

Copper is an amazing conductor of heat. Bringing the copper-touching toner to a fusible temperature without the laser-facing top layer vapourising would be very difficult.

That said, try it and report back! If it does work, it could be very useful.  I would start with a warmed PC board (close to but below fusing temperature) to minimise the loss.

And good luck.
Donald.
--
*Plain Text* email -- it's an accessibility issue
()  no proprietary attachments; no html mail
/\  ascii ribbon campaign - <www.asciiribbon.org>

----- Original Message -----
> From: "drsage2007" <davesage12@...>
> To: "Homebrew PCBs" <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:47:39 AM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Another approach for lasers
> Just had another idea.
> How about coating the PCB with a very thin layer of laser printer
> toner. A powder coating set up would work well for that i.e. uniform
> electrostatic attraction of the particles to the copper. Then use a
> laser diode on a CNC mill or flatbed plotter to fuse the resist to the
> board.
> I also thought that powder coat paint might work but it requires a
> long heat cycle to cure it properly.
> 
> It may be time to destroy an old CD burner and try this.
> 
> Any thoughts??
> 
> Sage
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 


------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links