I just made my first (single sided) board using my modified laser printer that deposits toner directly on the board. A few observations and questions: 1- I...
Hi Mark, I may offer some limited suggestions to some of your questions. Q: 1 - Should I have run the board through the laminator more than once? A: It may...
Hello Mark, An afterthought or two. I find that when I have to visually examine something in fine detail, it is easier to scan it on my scanner at maximum...
Robert, My second try was MUCH better. I noticed that the pitting was actually more like streaks, all going in the same direction. Perhaps caused by the gel??...
Hello Mark, That is great to here! I can't immediately think what is causing the pitting to be in lines or streaks. If would have been great if you took a high...
Hi Robert, I'm using a precision focused opto reflector - angled beam and receiver. I could use a split board with a slit to precisely detect the edge of the...
Hi Mark Keep up your excellent work! This is a very interesting application! In addition to Robert's comments on the opto interrupter accuracy here is a link...
Bertho, I wouldn't have thought that opto interruptors would be that repeatable. I'm going to run a sheet of paper through a laser printer twice and see how...
Hi Mark, If you are using a hotplate, the contact between it and the PCB affects the PCB's temperature. In that case, you also ought to have a cover that ...
I think maybe a hot plate with a thermocouple on the copper of the board. I'll do some tests this weekend. I'm going to take and post some pictures in the next...
Hi Bertho and Mark, I had a look at the web page you mentioned. I just though I would mention that the opto couple mentioned is not at all like the common...
Hi Robert, Thanks for pointing out that the unit has the internal Schmitt trigger which some people might have missed. Similar result can be achieved with a...
Is it possible that you printed out both layers of a double-sided board? ;-) Looks nice though, any chance of getting really high resolution pictures of the...
Great work Mark!! Congratulations on a clever system, I never expected that to work so well. Bertho From: Mark Lerman Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 13:00 I...
I am new to this group, and never thought about making my own PCB's. I have usually ordered them, but I see the benefit and am curious about this. Now on this...
Actually the idea of the Foreman grill might be promising but for another reason: Temperature profile control. First, add some temperature controller to the...
... What I do is put the board on a cold hotplate, then turn it on. Mine takes about three minutes to heat enough to melt solder, which seems to work well for...
I have done that too, and that avoids the temperature shock. If the specifications on allowable soldering temperatures and time are going to be met, it is a...
Now that I can print single sided boards, I think I've found a way to print double sided boards, with excellent registration, in a single pass. This will need...
Hi, The main point against commercial application for doublesided boards would be the inability to "tent" vias. Few commercial boards are doublesided but not...
Hi Stefan, I'm not sure whether I am actually interested in a commercial venture - I have more than enough to do right now - but I am interested in considering...
Hi Mark, I'm perfectly happy to keep this on the list so everyone may benefit. One of my questions is about the mechanics. If one sends a rigid PCB through a...
Instead of modifying a George Foreman grill how about sandwiching the board between two thick aluminum plates, using enough c-clamps to insure even compression...
Stefan, Before I got the mechanics straightened out, I did damage the drum in 2 places, but since then there hasn't been any. Granted I've only run boards...
I actually tried that. It worked sort of OK. Maybe with more experimentation you could get it better than I did. Chuck WB2EDV ... From: "Dave Leddon"...