madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Tech Help - Etcher's Paradise => Topic started by: matmosphere on February 15, 2016, 04:43:21 PM

Title: Alternative to having a laser printer
Post by: matmosphere on February 15, 2016, 04:43:21 PM
I'd like to start etching but every tutorial I see involves using a laser printer to get a good transfer. Unfortunately I don't have one. I've considered having things printed at a print shop, but I'm nut confident in any of the shops I've used around me. Does anyone know of a decent alternative?
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: stevie1556 on February 15, 2016, 04:58:40 PM
Any print shop should have a laser printer or photocopier. Years ago, I printed out loads of etching files onto a bit of paper and got Staples to photocopy it me. It worked quite well. The other alternative is look on Facebook groups for where you are, ask if someone on the group has a laser printer and wouldn't mind printing out a sheet or two.

I was looking for some blue Press N Peel the other week and found the cheap Chinese transfer paper, it's much cheaper (20 sheets for the price of one PNP sheet) and they worked really well.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: davent on February 15, 2016, 04:59:34 PM
If you have an inkjet printer, apparently you can produce the transparenies needed for photoresist boards. I use a laserjet to make the transparencies and haven't tried doing it with an inkjet.

Personally i can't fathom why people use toner transfer as an etch resist unless they just can't get photoresist boards.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Creating-Printed-Circuit-Boards-with-a-INKJET-Prin/

dave
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: alparent on February 15, 2016, 05:04:00 PM
Quote from: stevie1556 on February 15, 2016, 04:58:40 PM
Any print shop should have a laser printer or photocopier. Years ago, I printed out loads of etching files onto a bit of paper and got Staples to photocopy it me. It worked quite well. The other alternative is look on Facebook groups for where you are, ask if someone on the group has a laser printer and wouldn't mind printing out a sheet or two.

I was looking for some blue Press N Peel the other week and found the cheap Chinese transfer paper, it's much cheaper (20 sheets for the price of one PNP sheet) and they worked really well.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

Any link to that cheap transfer paper?  :o)
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: stevie1556 on February 15, 2016, 05:15:40 PM
Double post : (
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: stevie1556 on February 15, 2016, 05:16:39 PM


Quote from: stevie1556 on February 15, 2016, 05:15:40 PM


Quote from: alparent on February 15, 2016, 05:04:00 PM
Any link to that cheap transfer paper?  :o)

Can't seem to link to it, but this is the screenshot of the one I got.....

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160215/767e1c3d2b276fa585f58113e230d149.jpg)

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk



Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: davent on February 15, 2016, 05:19:15 PM
Quote from: alparent on February 15, 2016, 05:04:00 PM
Quote from: stevie1556 on February 15, 2016, 04:58:40 PM
Any print shop should have a laser printer or photocopier. Years ago, I printed out loads of etching files onto a bit of paper and got Staples to photocopy it me. It worked quite well. The other alternative is look on Facebook groups for where you are, ask if someone on the group has a laser printer and wouldn't mind printing out a sheet or two.

I was looking for some blue Press N Peel the other week and found the cheap Chinese transfer paper, it's much cheaper (20 sheets for the price of one PNP sheet) and they worked really well.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

Any link to that cheap transfer paper?  :o)

There's a place in Niagara Falls that used to sell one, i think MarK H. has played around with it or at least posted about it.

dipmicro.com which i can't get through to right now.

dave
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: alparent on February 15, 2016, 05:20:21 PM
ok thanks guys
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: m-Kresol on February 15, 2016, 05:39:21 PM
It depends on if you want to etch pcbs or enclosures. I agree with davent, photoresistive pcbs are cheap and widely available. You only need some transparent sheets for overhead projectors to print your mask, which also works with inkjets.

I've tried photoresist on enclosures using a spray can, but it didn't turn out too well. The thickness of the film is just to uneven to give you good results and you don't want to overexpose the film. Also, you can't use NaOH for etching the enclosures, you're basically limited to FeCl3.

Before I got a laser printer at home (the one Cody recommends in his tutorial), I printed the masks for toner transfer at work using a big ass office printer/photo copier and it worked rather well too
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: davent on February 15, 2016, 06:01:20 PM
Connected now to dipmicro, Niagara Falls Ontario

http://www.dipmicro.com/store/TRANSFER-PAPER-YELLOW
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: alparent on February 15, 2016, 06:21:56 PM
Running out HP Photo paper.....
And this Yellow stuff is must cheaper! 2$ for 10 on ebay.
Title: Re: Alternative top having a laser printer
Post by: stevie1556 on February 16, 2016, 11:04:42 PM
Quote from: alparent on February 15, 2016, 06:21:56 PM
Running out HP Photo paper.....
And this Yellow stuff is must cheaper! 2$ for 10 on ebay.

Stock up on it! order 1 million sheets ready for the full Etchers Paradise!!!!!!