Homebrew PCBs

Hi,
Pardon my ignorance. How can I print Gerber laypout on a 
transperency in exact size. Can any laser or inkjet printer be used 
or do I need a specific type? And how shall I set the print size to 
match my desired layout size exactly without going through trial and 
error?
Please help.
Thanks,
JP

>From: "jpakrashi" <jpakrashi@...>
>Reply-To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] What printer and how?
>Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:04:27 -0000
>
>
>
>Hi,
>Pardon my ignorance. How can I print Gerber laypout on a
>transperency in exact size. Can any laser or inkjet printer be used
>or do I need a specific type? And how shall I set the print size to
>match my desired layout size exactly without going through trial and
>error?

The Pulsonix software I use prints transparencies (on tracing paper) with 
sufficient accuracy for my purposes on my LaserJet 5p. I don't have to do 
anything, it just does it. I don't use the Gerber output for this, it's 
easier just to output to the Windows printer.

Leon

Thanks Mr.Heller,
I don't have Pusonix and I don't wish to spend $5,000 printer 
utility or learning time. All I need is to tell the printer that my 
board (drawn area) is certain mm x certain mm and printer to adjust 
the print size to that. If I have a 2D .DXF file that has my board 
layout for a 131x73 board I want to print a 131x73 mm image on paper 
with the correct aspect ratio. Somewhat like autofit feature of 
windows printer utility.
The purpose for this is to visualy check the board layout for trace 
or pad overlap(s)  before sending it to the board maker.
Regards,
JP
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Leon Heller" 
<leon_heller@h...> wrote:
> 
> 
> >From: "jpakrashi" <jpakrashi@y...>
> >Reply-To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> >To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] What printer and how?
> >Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:04:27 -0000
> >
> >
> >
> >Hi,
> >Pardon my ignorance. How can I print Gerber laypout on a
> >transperency in exact size. Can any laser or inkjet printer be 
used
> >or do I need a specific type? And how shall I set the print size 
to
> >match my desired layout size exactly without going through trial 
and
> >error?
> 
> The Pulsonix software I use prints transparencies (on tracing 
paper) with 
> sufficient accuracy for my purposes on my LaserJet 5p. I don't 
have to do 
> anything, it just does it. I don't use the Gerber output for this, 
it's 

> easier just to output to the Windows printer.
> 
> Leon

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 21:36:10 -0000, jpakrashi <jpakrashi@...> wrote:

>
> Thanks Mr.Heller,
> I don't have Pusonix and I don't wish to spend $5,000 printer
> utility or learning time. All I need is to tell the printer that my
> board (drawn area) is certain mm x certain mm and printer to adjust
> the print size to that. If I have a 2D .DXF file that has my board
> layout for a 131x73 board I want to print a 131x73 mm image on paper
> with the correct aspect ratio. Somewhat like autofit feature of
> windows printer utility.
> The purpose for this is to visualy check the board layout for trace
> or pad overlap(s)  before sending it to the board maker.
> Regards,
> JP

Do you consider it an option to just print the thing out, grab some  
calipers,
and check the dimensions?
For me printing at 1:1 ratio does work, but really nobody can tell for  
sure if it will for you.
Note that laser printers have a certain amount of distortion due to the  
process, which isn't
a prolem in many cases.
Don't make it more complicted than it is, just try and measure.

ST

I think the issue is your layout software (or what ever you are
printing with) and printer driver.  I'd be willing to bet that most,
if not, all layout programs can (try to) print an exactly correct 1:1
image. Instead of converting to dxf, why dont you print directly? 
Most printers are pretty accurate.  Maybe you should just try printing
a test patern on printer you are thinking about and see if the result
is close enough.  I think you should turn off autofit (though I've
never had this problem).

my own experience is that Eagle and an HP5550 or Canon iP4000 produces
pretty accurate output.  These are inkjets - I then use a copier to
get toner on paper.   

Also, Pentalogix viewmate (free trial) produces accurate output from
gerbers with the above printers.  You probably should be using gerbers
anyway as that is the preferred transfer format.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "jpakrashi" <jpakrashi@y...> wrote:

> 
> Thanks Mr.Heller,
> I don't have Pusonix and I don't wish to spend $5,000 printer 
> utility or learning time. All I need is to tell the printer that my 
> board (drawn area) is certain mm x certain mm and printer to adjust 
> the print size to that. If I have a 2D .DXF file that has my board 
> layout for a 131x73 board I want to print a 131x73 mm image on paper 
> with the correct aspect ratio. Somewhat like autofit feature of 
> windows printer utility.
> The purpose for this is to visualy check the board layout for trace 
> or pad overlap(s)  before sending it to the board maker.
> Regards,
> JP
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Leon Heller" 
> <leon_heller@h...> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > >From: "jpakrashi" <jpakrashi@y...>
> > >Reply-To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] What printer and how?
> > >Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:04:27 -0000
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Hi,
> > >Pardon my ignorance. How can I print Gerber laypout on a
> > >transperency in exact size. Can any laser or inkjet printer be 
> used
> > >or do I need a specific type? And how shall I set the print size 
> to
> > >match my desired layout size exactly without going through trial 
> and
> > >error?
> > 
> > The Pulsonix software I use prints transparencies (on tracing 
> paper) with 
> > sufficient accuracy for my purposes on my LaserJet 5p. I don't 
> have to do 
> > anything, it just does it. I don't use the Gerber output for this, 
> it's 
> > easier just to output to the Windows printer.
> > 
> > Leon