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PCB toner with transparency?

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LAN_403

Killa-X

Mon May 04 2009, 04:00AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

I lack a laser printer. I figured I can use my computer lab printer and print my board on a overhead transparent. Can these be used to do an iron toner transfer as long as I put something over it so I don't melt plastic to my iron? All printers at&t school are toner. I know this because the printed paper comes ou hot, and I did test at home with a solder iron and transfer toner from paper to PVC. However you can't to copper because paper is full of tiny holes and won't transfer. I was told glossy paper! Yeah, don't have it. Magazines, not going to change jaming a school printer. Please tell me overhead transparers works!!!

Any word issues above, please blame it on my iPods stupid autocorrect. Thanks!

Dave Marshall

Mon May 04 2009, 04:08AM

Registered Member #16 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:22PM
Location: New Wilmington, PA
Posts: 554

In a word: Yes.

Transparencies work fine, but be *absolutely certain* that the transparencies you purchase are specifically approved for use in laser printers. Some types will melt in the fuser, which will make you exceedingly unpopular with your school's IT admin.

As for actually doing the ironing, laser safe transparencies are pretty heat-tolerant, and probably won't melt unless you've really got that iron cranked. If you do use something on top of the transparency, make it something thin, like 2 sheets of standard computer paper.

-Dave

Killa-X

Mon May 04 2009, 04:13AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Considering I get the sheets from my school, isn't it garentee to be for laser printers? I ask teachers for a few sheets and tadah. If worse comes to worst, I just ask if the office will let me Prut to a sheet the way try always do.

...

Mon May 04 2009, 04:21AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

I doubt that a transparency would work, you need to get glossy photo paper. The idea being that you can dissolve the paper from underneath the toner--with a transparency I am pretty sure the toner would stay stuck to the transparency and not leave anything on your board. I think I paid $20 for a 100sheet pack of photopaper from staples, which has lasted me many years. There are numerous sites with suggestions on what kind of paper to get and how to transfer it.

ConKbot of Doom

Mon May 04 2009, 01:50PM

Registered Member #509 Joined: Sat Feb 10 2007, 07:02AM
Location:
Posts: 329

not sure where you're located, but some companies make a dedicated heat resistant but water soluble toner tranfer paper,

havent tried it, but it looks promising. And given its a fresh sheet, of the proper size, less likely to jam in a printer.

Ive done glossy magazine paper before and it tranfers well, but Ive had an edge catch in my printer and wow was it hard to dissasemble to get it out.

Killa-X

Mon May 04 2009, 08:58PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

I decided to retype this.

I eneded up going to school and at the end of the day, printed my design onto a transparent sheet. The lab teacher said he'll try it and it shouldn't be a problem. Manual feed it, and it worked fine. I came home to find out it's too big. I couldn't figure out WHY. Then I noticed when you do File>New in photoshop, and set the size from CLIPBOARD to US PAPER, it changed the DPI from 150 to 300. This screwed it up. So at home with an inkjet, I printed a 150DPI version, and parts fiit EXACTLY. So I have to now go back to school and reprint.

I'm planning on buying some laser printer gloss paper tonight or sometime this week. School printers are all laser printers, and I used a Black ink & Laser Printer Transparency. But it was a learning experience. First time making and printing. I found that my text came out correct (eagles auto mirrors it) but my 555 was not correct. So I learned to fix that and now it's all right.

I'll have to think about that PBC in-a-box paper. Seems a bit much for 10 sheets for 14 dollars but it's very effective and easy transfer... Makes you wonder why printers these days don't have ways to detect a jam faster so it can be fixed. Or at least align the paper before it hits the rollers. Did you manually feed it like we did at school?

Can any gloss paper work? I kinda laughed at the 99.99% it wont jam.. :)

big5824

Tue May 05 2009, 03:26PM

Registered Member #1687 Joined: Tue Sept 09 2008, 08:47PM
Location: UK, Darlington
Posts: 240

Iv printed straight onto transparencys using an inkjet printer, worked fine for me and produced a very good circuit board :)

Killa-X

Tue May 05 2009, 10:47PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Inkjets arnt toner. I tryed it my self and they dont transfer or even move with heat. The ink requires no heat to print.

Either way I got gloss paper aka photopaper for color laser printers. I plan to print one at my school thursday or so when I don't work. Also plan to pick up a copper clad and etching solution..

Conundrum

Sat May 09 2009, 10:02PM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061

worked for me too, but you may need to overlay multiple prints to remove any gaps in the printout.

also make sure the transparency is absolutely flush with the board, the best way is to use a sheet of glass to hold it down.

-A

...

Sun May 10 2009, 12:03AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

I think a number of you are confusing using a transparency as a mask to expose a board coated in photoresist with the toner transfer method that Killa-X is trying to use.

I still think that you are going to have a hard time getting the toner to stick to the board instead of the transparency, without the ability to dissolve off the paper from behind. But its worth a try at least!

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