Re: pcb printing

From: Mike Harrison (mike_at_whitewing.co.uk)
Date: 10/28/04 

Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 08:50:22 GMT

On 28 Oct 2004 05:03:00 GMT, cbarn24050@aol.com (CBarn24050) wrote:

>
>>Subject: Re: pcb printing
>>From: Mike Harrison mike@whitewing.co.uk
>>Date: 27/10/2004 15:01 GMT Standard Time
>>Message-id: <llavn01ie1t9jerfbe944bsf7eq035ecrc@4ax.com>
>>
>
>>>i woudnt bother with laser prints, not only do you have dimension problems
>>but
>>>the density isn't good enough for anything but the crudest pcbs. Get a local
>>>pcb company to do you some photoplots
>>.
>>Not true.
>>Laser print on tracing paper and decent quality laminate can easily do 40
>>tracks per inch with no
>>defects.
>>see www.electricstuff.co.uk/pcbs.html for details
>>
>>
>
>Well thats only 12thou traces, which is pretty crude by todays standards.

But entirely adequate for a large proportion of 1- and 2-layer PCBs. Smaller tracks, down to about 8
thou are actually possible with care. If you need really tiny tracks then use a commercial
fabricator - chances are that PCBs requiring this density will need too many vias to be viable as a
non-plated homebrew PCB anyway. Most run-of-the-mill stuff just doesn't need to be that small.
I have done PCBs with 0.5mm pitch TSOPS on with this method with good results - you tend to need to
print a few copies and pick the best one.
For fine stuff, another good option is to get a transparency made by a phototypesetting shop -
pretty cheap and excellent resolution.

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