Homebrew_PCBs

Hi Mark
Very good write up on your modification of the LexMark 260

The last communication we had was about the maximum carrier thickness
plus PCB thickness.
I was running a 0.062 PCB without a carrier and the printing was
stopping at about half way through. That was caused by the PCB being too
short and the ground pulling off the PCB as it was half way through the
printer. Putting the PCB on a 0.010 card stock carrier that was about 12
inches long cleared that up. (using a small wire soldered to the PCB and
attached to some copper tape at the trailing end of the carrier. then a
paper clip connection to ground.)

Today I preformed an experiment to determine the MAX thickness that
would go through the printer. I took a stack of 0.012 card stock sheets
and stacked them to make an overall thickness of about 0.062 inches. I
didn't include a PCB ... just printed on the card stock.
0.062 ... ok
0.074 ... ok
0.086 ... ok
0.098 ... jammed
so it looks like a carrier plus PCB thickness of 0.086 is my limit.
Also your extra effort to remove the paper platform is neccessary for
thicker PCBs.

Note: the paper platform has not been removed in my modification but the
"ribs" and "bumps" on the paper platform has been shaved off using a
sharp chisel.

Jim KI6MZ

Hi Jim,

If .086 PLUS the .010 carrier works, then .062 should go through, if
the ribs are cut off. I might have to get another E260 and try it. I
just bought a "dead" E250 to see if it can be modified. I paid about
$25 for it. I think it will work, but I have to get a drum and toner
cart for it.

I have two E260s that have been modified exactly the same. Using the
same toner/drum, 1 gives perfect images, while the other has skipped
areas on the same pcb. <sigh>.

Mark

At 04:07 PM 8/5/2014, you wrote:

>Hi Mark
>Very good write up on your modification of the LexMark 260
>
>The last communication we had was about the maximum carrier thickness
>plus PCB thickness.
>I was running a 0.062 PCB without a carrier and the printing was
>stopping at about half way through. That was caused by the PCB being too
>short and the ground pulling off the PCB as it was half way through the
>printer. Putting the PCB on a 0.010 card stock carrier that was about 12
>inches long cleared that up. (using a small wire soldered to the PCB and
>attached to some copper tape at the trailing end of the carrier. then a
>paper clip connection to ground.)
>
>Today I preformed an experiment to determine the MAX thickness that
>would go through the printer. I took a stack of 0.012 card stock sheets
>and stacked them to make an overall thickness of about 0.062 inches. I
>didn't include a PCB ... just printed on the card stock.
>0.062 ... ok
>0.074 ... ok
>0.086 ... ok
>0.098 ... jammed
>so it looks like a carrier plus PCB thickness of 0.086 is my limit.
>Also your extra effort to remove the paper platform is neccessary for
>thicker PCBs.
>
>Note: the paper platform has not been removed in my modification but the
>"ribs" and "bumps" on the paper platform has been shaved off using a
>sharp chisel.
>
>Jim KI6MZ
>
>
>------------------------------------
>Posted by: Jim <jhutch17@...>
>------------------------------------
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo Groups Links
>
>
>

Hi mark

Sorry to muscle in on your thread with Jim but I am fascinated by the talk about mcu mods to enable direct printing. Can you provide a link to where I can find out more about your work and any boards etc you may offer, please.

Bill

Hi Jim,

If .086 PLUS the .010 carrier works, then .062 should go through, if 
the ribs are cut off. I might have to get another E260 and try it. I 
just bought a "dead" E250 to see if it can be modified. I paid about 
$25 for it. I think it will work, but I have to get a drum and toner 
cart for it.

I have two E260s that have been modified exactly the same. Using the 
same toner/drum, 1 gives perfect images, while the other has skipped 
areas on the same pcb. <sigh>.

Mark

At 04:07 PM 8/5/2014, you wrote:

Hi Mark
Very good write up on your modification of the LexMark 260

The last communication we had was about the maximum carrier thickness
plus PCB thickness.
I was running a 0.062 PCB without a carrier and the printing was
stopping at about half way through. That was caused by the PCB being too
short and the ground pulling off the PCB as it was half way through the
printer. Putting the PCB on a 0.010 card stock carrier that was about 12
inches long cleared that up. (using a small wire soldered to the PCB and
attached to some copper tape at the trailing end of the carrier. then a
paper clip connection to ground.)

Today I preformed an experiment to determine the MAX thickness that
would go through the printer. I took a stack of 0.012 card stock sheets
and stacked them to make an overall thickness of about 0.062 inches. I
didn't include a PCB ... just printed on the card stock.
0.062 ... ok
0.074 ... ok
0.086 ... ok
0.098 ... jammed
so it looks like a carrier plus PCB thickness of 0.086 is my limit.
Also your extra effort to remove the paper platform is neccessary for
thicker PCBs.

Note: the paper platform has not been removed in my modification but the
"ribs" and "bumps" on the paper platform has been shaved off using a
sharp chisel.

Jim KI6MZ


------------------------------------
Posted by: Jim <jhutch17@...>
------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
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------------------------------------

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------------------------------------
Posted by: Mark Lerman <mlerman@...>
------------------------------------

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

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Hi Bill,

Here's the Instrucable: < http://www.instructables.com/id/Modification-of-the-Lexmark-E260-for-Direct-Laser-/

>. For some of the threads we've pursued in this group do a search for

"DLP" there was one other unrelated thread using that topic, but most of the rest will be about my adventures in what I call Direct laser Printing.

Mark


At 07:22 PM 8/5/2014, you wrote:

Hi mark

Sorry to muscle in on your thread with Jim but I am fascinated by the talk about mcu mods to enable direct printing. Can you provide a link to where I can find out more about your work and any boards etc you may offer, please.

Bill
On 6/08/2014 9:09 AM, Mark Lerman mlerman@... [Homebrew_PCBs] wrote:

Hi Jim,

If .086 PLUS the .010 carrier works, then .062 should go through, if 
the ribs are cut off. I might have to get another E260 and try it. I 
just bought a "dead" E250 to see if it can be modified. I paid
about 
$25 for it. I think it will work, but I have to get a drum and toner 
cart for it.

I have two E260s that have been modified exactly the same. Using the 
same toner/drum, 1 gives perfect images, while the other has skipped 
areas on the same pcb. <sigh>.

Mark

At 04:07 PM 8/5/2014, you wrote:

Hi Mark
Very good write up on your modification of the LexMark 260

The last communication we had was about the maximum carrier thickness
plus PCB thickness.
I was running a 0.062 PCB without a carrier and the printing was
stopping at about half way through. That was caused by the PCB being too
short and the ground pulling off the PCB as it was half way through the
printer. Putting the PCB on a 0.010 card stock carrier that was about 12
inches long cleared that up. (using a small wire soldered to the PCB and
attached to some copper tape at the trailing end of the carrier. then a
paper clip connection to ground.)

Today I preformed an experiment to determine the MAX thickness that
would go through the printer. I took a stack of 0.012 card stock sheets
and stacked them to make an overall thickness of about 0.062 inches. I
didn't include a PCB ... just printed on the card stock.
0.062 ... ok
0.074 ... ok
0.086 ... ok
0.098 ... jammed
so it looks like a carrier plus PCB thickness of 0.086 is my limit.
Also your extra effort to remove the paper platform is neccessary for
thicker PCBs.

Note: the paper platform has not been removed in my modification but the
"ribs" and "bumps" on the paper platform has been
shaved off using a
sharp chisel.

Jim KI6MZ


------------------------------------
Posted by: Jim
<jhutch17@...>
------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
------------------------------------

Yahoo Groups Links

------------------------------------
Posted by: Mark Lerman
<mlerman@...>
------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
------------------------------------

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Bertho, Jim and all,

I found the reason why this particular machine was not working as well as the others. I have had this machine apart many times, and I had just been putting the Transfer Roller and removable spring in a pile of that sort of stuff. Unfortunately I had two shorter springs in the same area that I had been experimenting with, and I accidentally switch a 24 mm spring in for the 27-28mm one. Replaced the spring with the correct one, works fine. Put the shorter one back in, doesn't work. Perfectly Repeatable: Problem Solved!!

BTW I just bought an E250, and it seems even better suited for DLP since the Manual Feed rollers are very similar to the one I had to add to the E260. Just got the Service Manual, but I have to get a Toner Cart and Drum. I'm going to see how it works without cutting the paper Platform.

Mark

At 12:28 PM 8/6/2014, you wrote:

Mark,
Your printer conversion work and the write-up is great!!
I worry though why the second printer is not performing as well as the first one.
 
It also sounds promising that 1.6mm boards can be run through without extensive modification.
 
Finally, have you tried my printer resolution test:
http://www.vinland.com/USAF-1951.html
 
See the second part.  It gives worst case combinations of slightly angled traces with different track-spaces.
Bertho
 

Thanks Mark

I have seen the instructable but I am particularly interested in your other method, using a mcu hack. I'll try searching as you suggest, although it must be said that searching under the new Yahoo format is fairly hit and miss.

Bill

Hi Bill,

Here's the Instrucable: < http://www.instructables.com/id/Modification-of-the-Lexmark-E260-for-Direct-Laser-/ >. For some of the threads we've pursued in this group do a search for "DLP" there was one other unrelated thread using that topic, but most of the rest will be about my adventures in what I call Direct laser Printing.

Mark


At 07:22 PM 8/5/2014, you wrote:

Hi mark

Sorry to muscle in on your thread with Jim but I am fascinated by the talk about mcu mods to enable direct printing. Can you provide a link to where I can find out more about your work and any boards etc you may offer, please.

Bill
On 6/08/2014 9:09 AM, Mark Lerman mlerman@... [Homebrew_PCBs] wrote:

Hi Jim,

If .086 PLUS the .010 carrier works, then .062 should go through, if 
the ribs are cut off. I might have to get another E260 and try it. I 
just bought a "dead" E250 to see if it can be modified. I paid
about 
$25 for it. I think it will work, but I have to get a drum and toner 
cart for it.

I have two E260s that have been modified exactly the same. Using the 
same toner/drum, 1 gives perfect images, while the other has skipped 
areas on the same pcb. <sigh>.

Mark

At 04:07 PM 8/5/2014, you wrote:

Hi Mark
Very good write up on your modification of the LexMark 260

The last communication we had was about the maximum carrier thickness
plus PCB thickness.
I was running a 0.062 PCB without a carrier and the printing was
stopping at about half way through. That was caused by the PCB being too
short and the ground pulling off the PCB as it was half way through the
printer. Putting the PCB on a 0.010 card stock carrier that was about 12
inches long cleared that up. (using a small wire soldered to the PCB and
attached to some copper tape at the trailing end of the carrier. then a
paper clip connection to ground.)

Today I preformed an experiment to determine the MAX thickness that
would go through the printer. I took a stack of 0.012 card stock sheets
and stacked them to make an overall thickness of about 0.062 inches. I
didn't include a PCB ... just printed on the card stock.
0.062 ... ok
0.074 ... ok
0.086 ... ok
0.098 ... jammed
so it looks like a carrier plus PCB thickness of 0.086 is my limit.
Also your extra effort to remove the paper platform is neccessary for
thicker PCBs.

Note: the paper platform has not been removed in my modification but the
"ribs" and "bumps" on the paper platform has been
shaved off using a
sharp chisel.

Jim KI6MZ


------------------------------------
Posted by: Jim
<jhutch17@...>
------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
------------------------------------

Yahoo Groups Links

------------------------------------
Posted by: Mark Lerman
<mlerman@...>
------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
------------------------------------

Yahoo Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
   

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
   

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/join
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<*> To change settings via email:
   

Homebrew_PCBs-digest@yahoogroups.com 
   

Homebrew_PCBs-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   

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Thanks Mark

Either an addition to the Instructable or a website would be great. The latter would overcome any limitations on number of photos etc.

I would be very happy to host any info on the DLP modifications at MassMind.org. I already have som info at:

http://techref.massmind.org/techref/pcb/etch/directlaserprint.htm