pcb help

[whitetop]

dont know were to put this plus using my iphone to do this post so if you dont understand it sorry


im doing a little homemade project for my sons ipod and to do this i would like to make a printed pcb i can get the peal and iron stuff from maplins but needs a laser printer and if i knew that i would not have got a inkjet.ive asked on a few site and googled and cannot get a simple answer i want to know if i use the transffer sheets on a inkjet printer will it stick to the copper when i warm it up or does the laser printer use differnt ink

[Phantom]

nope, you can only do that method on a laser printer, not an inkjet. the toner it uses is plastic so it transfers over with heat.

also, glossy photo paper works just as good as that blue 'press n peel' stuff, and its a way cheaper. i got a pack of 20 a5 sheets for like 5 bucks

you can use a sharpie to draw out your PCB onto the copper, then etch it. it usually looks pretty terrible though

[whitetop]

ive seen the pens so if i use the pen i dont need the sheet?

[Phantom]

yeh you just need a pen and a piece of copper board, then draw your design onto the copper and etch it

[whitetop]

thx man saved me a bit of money there all got got was you need a laser printer but iall i seen was the printer for printing directley to the board

[Hazer]

You can also use a standard copier. You print the circuit on an inkjet, then put the blue paper into a photo-copier and copy the inkjet print.

[hyper999]

yeah whitetop what im doing is printing it out on my inkjet then photocopying it at the library. but you can get it photocopied in al sorts of places, try libraries, news agents, post offices.

the thing is that it is printed using toner not ink.

also you may not need the special sheets google "pcb toner transfer tutorial" most people just use acetate, photo paper, or regular paper.

[whitetop]

thx guys for this got the kids ipod and gona start on the stuff

[hyper999]

if you do get the blue stuff let me know how it works out

[FOOKz™]

the gloss paper method works only when the sheet of paper is really dry. The transfer paper gets a consistent transfer of ink onto your PCB almost every time. gloss paper is way cheaper dont get me wrong but theres a greater window for error using gloss paper.

Theres better ways like photoresist etching... but it causes cancer and its expensive.

[FreeK]

You can also use a standard copier. You print the circuit on an inkjet, then put the blue paper into a photo-copier and copy the inkjet print.

Holy ! It's Hazer!

[frenulem - No.5417]

Holy ! It's Hazer!

nah you're seeing things.... on topic i think i have an old laser in the shed :P

[Famas]

ive seen it done with pens and printer pens are rubbish as 1 mistake with the pen and you might have a break in copper etc not a solid line our old school had a black and white printer and we used that so hopes this helps

[FOOKz™]

Holy ! It's Hazer!

Holy ! It's Freek!