pcb printing circuit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 10:37:12 pm
content: i found a printing machine on my warehouse..its an HP photosmart c4200..can i use it to print cicuits for making pcb's?i got these paper that you can print photos if need

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 10:40:37 pm
content: No.Well, yeah you can use an inkjet printer in the process of making pcbs but you can't print traces on pcb directly. But it's often more trouble than it's worth. You often needs good quality photo paperm, good ink etc.Just get a laser printer (i bought one recently for less than 100$), toner works better.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 10:40:53 pm
content: You can print on anything you like. Totally depends on how you plan on making a PCB though.

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 10:51:30 pm
content: i always pay for printing my circuits..i dont know much english so ill post you the way i use for pcb etchingi have good quality paper..the ink of the printer just cost 12 euros and if you say that i can use it for printing my circuit ill use that..if not..need to pay or buy a laser ink printer

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 10:55:12 pm
content: placing the paper on top of the copper and use a iron to make the traces on the pcb and then i use the technic i posted before..i want to know if the traces of the ink will stay on the copper

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:13:09 am
content: Quote from: christos on January 02, 2014, 10:55:12 pmNo. Ink used in inkjet printers will not transfer to anything with heat.Toner used in laser printers is not ink, it's very fine plastic dust, the reason it transfers with heat, is that the heat melts the plastic and it sticks more strongly to copper than to (proper) paper.Inkjet printers are not used for heat transfer methods, but they can be used for UV exposure methods.

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:42:57 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on January 03, 2014, 01:13:09 ami searched on the web about printing with inkjet on pcb directly by moding the printer..if i do mod my printer will it be better and faster ..if yes ill mod it and post some pics and a vid on that(if it will be a success mod)

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:54:22 am
content: Quote from: christos on January 03, 2014, 01:42:57 amThat's a pretty experimental way to make a PCB, good for a challenging project, but if you actually want to make a PCB, rather than make a PCB Printer, then you should get some dry-film negative photoresist, a couple bits of glass, some tracing paper, and a sunny spot.http://sparks.gogo.co.nz/dry-film-tips.pdf

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:56:17 am
content: You can't even be bothered to read the manual for that Keithley 2000 you have, and you think you're going to mod a HP inkjet printer?Not sure what you read somewhere on the net, maybe those mods were about printing silver based ink or conductive ink on PCB and leaving it like that, not to actually use the toner/ink as a blocking agent when developing boards.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:59:09 am
content: Not sure where you live, buy you can probably get a black and white laser printer second hand for $15 or less, its what I paid for one a few weeks ago with toner. Although depending on the printer, and your haggling skills, you might get one for free

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 02:05:29 am
content: I don't think it matters what anyone says a this point, the OP seems to have wandered off on his own now.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 02:06:33 am
content: Quote from: mariush on January 03, 2014, 01:56:17 amThere are some people doing direct resist printing with inkjets. But as I say, it's not an easy task, the ink is of course important also. The easiest printers to mod I expect of course are those that can accept a printable compact disk, which would be about the same thickness as a PCB.

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 02:09:42 am
content: Quote from: mariush on January 03, 2014, 01:56:17 amaww common ..im using it.....i just bought a cap meter and i got what i needed..its very easy multimeter the Keithley 2000 and very nice..sorry about the if i was lazy..at least you made me rethink about buying a new multimeter and thx

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 02:13:09 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on January 03, 2014, 02:06:33 ami got nothing to lose..ill try to make one with a friend..hes a smd maniac...he bought a pick and place machine to desing smd circuits

author: christos
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 02:15:13 am
content: one more problem..will acceton remove the ink of the pcb?

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 03:12:14 am
content: Quote from: christos on January 03, 2014, 02:15:13 amYes acetone would wipe off the ink without any issue almost certainly.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 03:28:08 am
content: Quote from: christos on January 02, 2014, 10:37:12 pmYou could try it for yourself, it's easy enough.Quote from: christos on January 02, 2014, 10:51:30 pmYou could try it for yourself, it's easy enough.Quote from: christos on January 02, 2014, 10:55:12 pmYou could try it for yourself, it's easy enough.Quote from: christos on January 03, 2014, 01:42:57 amYou could try it for yourself, it's easy enough.(Seeing a pattern yet?)Quote from: christos on January 03, 2014, 02:13:09 amYay! You finally got there!Quote from: christos on January 03, 2014, 02:15:13 amedit: My point, rather snarkily expressed, is that the whole point of this hobby* - any hobby, in fact - is simply trying stuff for yourself to see if it works.If you're never try you'll never learn, and you'll never get beyond a sub-LEGO level of clicking bits together and repeating what someone else has done.That said, I do understand that if you're starting from scratch it's difficult to know what's a good way to start or a good place to start. But c'mon mate, your question is basically 'will a printer print on this?'; it is, as I said, easy enough to try for yourself.(* and a good part of electronics as a profession too)