hi everyone.

ive got a question about which kind of photo paper i should use for making my PCB. Is there anything that i should especially be looking for in the paper? i looked @ some on the net, and i saw inkjet photopaper, laser photopaper, etc. wuts my best bet??

thank you

__________________
I'm no electronics god, i just talk too much.

 

Hi!

Do you have a deskjet or a laser printer? The paper type depends of this.

__________________
JFDuval
jfduval --@-- aqra.ca
http://www.aqra.ca

 

he's using it for PCB making, so he has to use a laser printer.

the best paper i have found is Staples brand "Picture Paper"

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Brows...e=1&Sku=471861

 

Hello!

I use my deskjet printer to make PCB... You just need some special transparency film. Personnaly, I use HP Premium inkjet transparacy film and it work well.

__________________
JFDuval
jfduval --@-- aqra.ca
http://www.aqra.ca

 

thanx everyone. JFDuval, you use ur deskjet?? im very interested in this :lol: . what kind do you use? i went to officedepot.com and saw laser transparency, write on transparency, inkjet transparency, etc.

Thanx evandude. unfortunately, i don't own, or know anyone who owns a laser printer. I was planning on printing it out on regular paper, then taking it to a copy shop and copy it onto a piece of photo paper that i would provide them to put into their copier.

Well, i guess that it just comes down to what type of transparency film i need, and therefore how much it will cost.

__________________
I'm no electronics god, i just talk too much.

 

really JFDuval??? can you use your inkjet printer for making PCBs.

i read a few articles about making PCBs on the internet and the only thing that kept me away from making my own PCBs at home was that a Laserjet printer is usually required.

could you explain your method a little bit?

 

D'OH!! i just realized that u say that you use inkjet transparency jfduval!! skiped that part ops:

would write on transparency work? its quite a bit less expensive

if it has to be inkjet transparency, then i think that i might stick with photo paper because inkjet transparency is $20 for 20 pieces. premium laser photo paper is $20 for 50.

btw, laser photo paper would work in a kinkos B&W copier right?

__________________
I'm no electronics god, i just talk too much.

 

ahha! i remember i developed a method requiring only water, clay, overhead transparency and patience. And yes of course a laser printer.

the clay was mixed with water in to a very very weak solution, like 95 percent water and then sprayed over othe transparency, then dry it out. The clay simply acted as a release agent. from there it is print, iron, peel and etch...simple

you could try just normal paper but i cant remeber the method.

p.s: oh yeh use soapy warm water when peeling it off. I swear using straight cold water is a b***h to get it working. :evil:

__________________
www.winpicprog.co.uk - Great PIC language tutorials.

 

Better make sure it is a high quality copier, I havent used a copier in awhile but I know that they tend to blur or mess up sometimes. Since you are dealing with very fine lines and stuff, a tiny misprint could mess it up.

__________________
Jeff
To the optimist, the glass is half full.
To the pessimist, the glass is half empty.
To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

Hello!

Yes, it's true. The fact that inkjet transparency cost high is bad but it's cheaper than changing my printer. The printer I use to make PCBs is an old HP Desket 400 (more than ten years old...) and it work perfect. See this picture, it's my lasts board etched: http://machivi.ma.cx/jfduv/DSC01045.JPG.

Good luck,

__________________
JFDuval
jfduval --@-- aqra.ca
http://www.aqra.ca

 

the photo paper i mentioned works just fine for use with a photocopier as well... and it costs a LOT less than transparency film...

 

Impressive board :!:

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

yeah really neat!!!!!!!!!!!!

so could you explain your method JFDuval.

you print out the layout on a transperency and then what???

 

WOW jfduval, thats reeealy nice!! if only it wasnt so expensive . thanx everyone for the help, im gonna go ahead and get some photo paper.

__________________
I'm no electronics god, i just talk too much.

 

Hello!

Thanks for the felicitations ops: . The process is simple:

1- I use Eagle to make my board on the computer
2- I print twice on transparency to have perfect opacity
3- I insolate my presensitized board with a cheap MG Insulator
4- I reveal with revealator
4- I put the board in my homemade etch tank (not sure if it's the name in english, in french it's a graveuse.)
5- I clean and use!

To see picture of my etching equipement, go to www.machivi.ma.cx. I have complete explainations there.

__________________
JFDuval
jfduval --@-- aqra.ca
http://www.aqra.ca