Touch Up Brother Toner Transfer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ciikucli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 07:32:00 am
content: In this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/general-chat/pcb-toner-transfer-brother-toner-early-experience/he mentioned that you almost always need a touch up. How do you do this? Has anyone else tried this with a brother laser printer?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 07:54:45 am
content: Touch up is done with a PCB pen. (The kind of pen people used to use to draw the tracks by hand).And yes, when i've made boards there has always been at least 1 spot that needs a little touch up with the pen.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 08:16:33 am
content: From pcbfx.com - don't use brother laser printers for toner transferB&W Laser Printers & Copiers are ideal, HOWEVER...there is one laser printer manufacturer that has recently reformulated their toner specifically so that re-fusing is just not possible due to an epoxy-based formula to their toner powder mix. This IS new! Effectively, they have broken ranks with what has been the "standard" 9-component toner formulation used in the industry for all laser, LED and photo-static printers. This new formulation also requires very high heat (nearly 500ºF) to fuse the toner to paper which also prohibits successful transfers for our purposes. That's just too hot to work with. Currently, (thankfully) there is only one confirmed brand name and two that are only suspect at this time. These manufacturers and their models are identified at the bottom of the page and will alsays be updated if more manufacturers follow suit.VERIFIED "No-Go" Printer: DO NOT USE!BROTHER: All models manufactured after 2001 (all 4-digit model numbers)HP-1102 & 1006 models (These have problems printing high-density toner)ALL COLOR PRINTERS! Actually, a color laser printer/color copier can be made to work IF you can perform a particular trick. See TECH SUPPORT > MiscellaneousSUSPECT Printers:SHARP: AL-800

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 10:10:07 am
content: Greetings EEVBees:--When I was researching doing my own PCBs, I must have watched a hundred videos. The series of videos on the web page below is absolutely the best, most accurate and cleanest approach, I have found. This guy knows what he is doing. He prints the pictures at Kinkos, and uses a laminator to bond the toner to the copper. Very, very professional using a minimum of tools, expense, and chemicals. See for youself, it is bound to give you ideas.http://www.getlofi.com/?p=1997"Does not squirrel crack nuts on bough of oak tree."Lao Fu 1410 1620Best RegardsClear Ether

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 10:36:08 am
content: I use a color laser epson c1100, with original black ink, works like a charmin fact all is in the choice of the paper, that must be light enought to dissolve easy in waterand heavy enought not to block the printer ...

author: RCMR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 07:31:48 pm
content: Quote from: kripton2035 on October 03, 2012, 10:36:08 amAbsolutely right!I've been using a Brother laser for the past couple of years with excellent results -- bonding of the toner to the copper is *not* an issue.What *can* be an issue however, is the paper itself. Some paper simply won't dissolve or wipe away properly between lands/traces -- other paper is perfect.Real ink-jet glossy color paper is not much good -- it seems that the plasticky surface also sticks to the PCB at the temperatures needed to refuse the Brother toner.The best stuff I've found so far is paper from the Australian Woman's Weekly. Just choose a page with a large area of white and print on that area. It will transfer nicely and the paper itself breaks down very well when wetted -- thus ensuring no bridging of pads/tracks.I regularly make boards that use quad-flat-pack devices with this setup and it's very reliable.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2012, 08:26:01 pm
content: don't know how to get australian's woman weekly 's paper here in france ...

author: asbokid
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2012, 12:25:03 am
content: What about the French periodical, Closer? Enjoy it while you're still a republic

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2012, 04:30:59 pm
content: Quote from: asbokid on October 04, 2012, 12:25:03 amsorry won't buy that one, even to make pcb ...

author: LDSisHere
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2012, 01:33:00 am
content: I use this paper with great results. Since I have started using this paper and my laminator I have not had one that needed to be touched up or failed during etching.http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/622234/Hammermill-Color-Gloss-Laser-Paper-8/#I realize that you may have trouble getting this brand but you may find something similar for in a glossy color laser paper in your area and give it a try. It is relatively cheap and seems consistent in results.