new way to make pcbs. Will it work??

[Mike]

I was looking in a computer part company catalog and seen a cd printer. It is a standard epson inkjet printer modified to print onto cds. would this work for pcbs? Sorry I don't have a link to it but i'll look for one.

[Chris Smith]

If you cut all of your boards round like a CD, then it will work? Trim them later, but larger boards are out?

[sigint33]

Most inkjet printers use water soluble ink - just take a printed page and get it wet! with the suitable ink it might work but it would only be a little more convenient than laser transfers.<p>Skip

[Mike]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Chris Smith:
If you cut all of your boards round like a CD, then it will work? Trim them later, but larger boards are out?<hr></blockquote><p>Actually, its a standard 8.5 x 11 printer.

[ajc-28]

Are you talking about making the artwork, or making a PCB from an existing artwork?

[Mike]

to print the pcb design made on a computer directly onto the PCB

[ajc-28]

If you are able to design a PC layout on a computer then it is very easy to make a PCB from that. What you need to do is print the layout on a translucent paper (one that allows light through). You need good black lines for the copper paths. Then you can buy from Circuit Specialists Inc., Mesa, AZ presensitized positive resist boards at very low prices. You expose the boards for about 60 seconds under ultraviolet light then develop them under a safelight in a dilute solution of sodium hydroxide. Circuit specialists has a web site and they supply all the materials. Once the boards are developed they can be etched in a solution of ammonium persulphate or ferric chlride.

[Mike]

i know that all already. i dont do it that way, i use the toner transfer method.<p>i want to know if this would work since it would be the easiest. print, etch, drill, solder, done.

[L. Daniel Rosa]

I think I see where you're going with this. A few years ago I was an article about adhesive backed copper foil that can go through some printers. This gets rid of the transfer part. It also allows you to use a variety of materials for the structural part of the PCB.