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Message |
    
mel
Frequent Contributor
Username: mel
Post Number: 85
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, 13 February, 2010 - 06:21 pm: | 
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I have been using an Epson C86 inkjet printer, together with non Epson printer cartridges (the cheap ones on eBay) for a few years now, to print PCB artwork on to transparency film. The C86 has a DPI (dots per inch) of 5760 x 1440 and is well suited to this task, it has been a very good machine, and did this job admirably well, until a couple of days ago, when the ink colours started bleeding into each other.
So off to the shops I went, to buy a new printer, I thought I would stick with Epson because the DPI is still the same as the C86. and cheap ink cartridges are available for them. I purchased an Epson SX 200, when I got it home I set it up, only to find that there is no facility to print on to transparency film, also if I tried to print on the transparency film just using ordinary settings, then the printer was sending the sheet completely through the machine without printing on it, although it would print on a normal piece of paper, I deduced that there must be some sort of light sensor, that was shining through the transparency film, so I sellotaped a piece of paper to the transparency film, and then I had a printout. The problem is even on the finest setting, I am not getting the deep rich blacks, which I was getting on the C86.
I telephoned Epson, and was told that all of their latest printers do NOT have the facility to print on to transparency film. I was just wondering if anybody else is using an inkjet printer to print on to transparency film, and if so perhaps they could give me the make and model please. Alternatively any suggestions gratefully received. |
joe
:::: Super User ::::
Username: joe
Post Number: 739
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, 13 February, 2010 - 06:55 pm: |
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Mel,
Because of the cost of ink etc, I switched to a laser printer several years ago and havn't looked back. I bought a colour laser 2 years ago and it's still on it's original ink carts and is excellent at general printing and for PCB transparencies. It's a colour HP 2600; I also have an older HP B&W 1200 that is great at PCB artwork as well. The laser printers ink never dries out and you can get refills off Ebay quite cheap.
Joe
Read my ramblings - www.techbites.com/joe-farr
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alanr
Regular Contributor
Username: alanr
Post Number: 30
Registered: 02-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, 14 February, 2010 - 03:49 pm: |
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I use an Epson Stylus D88. YOu can get transparency sheets with a paper strip already attached. I use the super Photopaper setting, can't remember the Sunday name for it, and with this printer I can adjust the gamma, which I set at maximum, 2.2. Then I tape two transparencies together. I wasted quite a bit of ink and film at first, but now it is straightforward. As my boards so far have been within eurocard size I get the two prints on the same sheet of film.
All the best, Alan |
derek
Valued Member
Username: derek
Post Number: 14
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, 14 February, 2010 - 04:36 pm: |
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Mel, it might be worth trying a sheet of tracing paper instead of a transparency if the ink will stick - I've not tried it! I've used it quite a few times in a laser printer when making pcb's without problems..might need slightly longer exposure time, but I think the contrast range is easily sufficient for photo-sensitive boards, but you'd have to see whether tracing paper defeats the sensor in your printer. However, I'm with Joe, I find a laser mono is best!
Best Wishes.....Derek |
gordon
Frequent Contributor
Username: gordon
Post Number: 564
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, 14 February, 2010 - 06:06 pm: |
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Could be worth trying the JetStar film. It is supposed to produce good contrast with inkjet printers, but I only have experience with HP printers. Mega and Rapid stock it. You might be able to get a sample sheet from Mega to try it first.
Another option is to overlay two printouts, which might be opaque enough.
http://www.megauk.com/artwork_films.php |
stubble
Member
Username: stubble
Post Number: 9
Registered: 02-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, 20 February, 2010 - 01:28 pm: |
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Hi, I use a brother DCP-315CN inkjet, setting it to transparencies and fine quality print using WH Smiths transparencies and I use cheep ink refills from cartridge world without problems. UV exposure of about 2.5 mins. |
mrusht
Member
Username: mrusht
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, 28 February, 2010 - 07:16 pm: |
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I use an old HP Deskjet 940C to print on 3M Universal Transparency Film (CG6000). This film contains a white strip across the top and produces great results. I also have a HP Laserjet P1006 which i got new for about £50 and that too produces good results. |
muskrat
Frequent Contributor
Username: muskrat
Post Number: 165
Registered: 06-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, 01 March, 2010 - 03:22 am: |
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@stubble
What UV lamps do you use?
I use Positiv 20 for my boards, with transparencies printed on a Canon ink jet printer. The lamps I use are ordinary "black light" fluorescent tubes, with which I have incredibly long exposure times - 15 minutes is average!
I would really like to get the sort of exposure times you are using. |
terry
Frequent Contributor
Username: terry
Post Number: 580
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, 01 March, 2010 - 07:59 am: |
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I had the same problems after buying a new printer a couple of years back. I switched to a laser printer and have never had a bad print or needed to buy a cartridge.
Terry |
stubble
Member
Username: stubble
Post Number: 10
Registered: 02-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, 01 March, 2010 - 11:38 am: |
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Hi. I tried all the usual stuff like the press and peel method and had very poor results what ever I tried and spent a fortune trying, than came across the website for Mega-UK and on the home page was some hobby equipment, which included the PCB hobby UV unit which I purchased, I see the price has come down from when I bought mine I paid £115, now £85, I think I you produce about 2 or 3 pcb a month it’s probably worth buying. It has 2 8W tubes and came with a separate digital timer.
http://www.megauk.com/hobby_equipment.php Some videos on the website as well.
I print my art work onto transparencies, 2 copies, one on top of the other so that the design is as dark as possible.
I use economy photo etch PCB with positive UV sensitive resist from Rapid Electronics. http://www.rapidonline.com
The UV unit with the economy PCB seems to work at its best with an exposure of 2.5 to 3 mins. Any longer and the tracts will be of poor quality.
Lee |
joe
:::: Super User ::::
Username: joe
Post Number: 741
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, 01 March, 2010 - 12:19 pm: |
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Or you can make an LED UV exposure unit for around £10 that works just as well.
http://www.techbites.com/20090923572/myblog/articles/z001c-a-led-ultra-violet-uv-pcb-exposure-unit.html
Joe
Read my ramblings - www.techbites.com/joe-farr
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mrusht
Member
Username: mrusht
Post Number: 8
Registered: 02-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, 03 March, 2010 - 03:21 pm: |
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I made my own UV lightbox out of plywood.
I bought 2 spare UV tubes from Maplin for their UV exposure unit and 2 striplight units from B&Q with the same size tubes. A piece of glass and you're done. All for less than £50. Exposure times are around 3 1/2 minutes
I dont think maplin sell the spare tubes anymore though |
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