Post by thread:[OT]: Press-n-Peel PCB Transfer Film

Hi all. I recently bought some Press-n-Peel Blue PCB transfer film (http://www.techniks.com/how_to.htm) from Peter Anderson. This is why I have been fighting lately with Eagle. Press-n-Peel comes in 8-1/2 by 11 inch sheets. Since none of my PCBs will be that large (Eagle freeware limit), I want to cut down the sheets so I can get more than one PCB out of a sheet. I figure I can attach it to a carrier sheet of paper to take it through the laser printer. Question is, how do I attach it? Is it safe to send tape or adhesives through the printer? Any other ideas? Thanks, Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

At 01:30 AM 11/21/02 -0600, you wrote: > I figure I can attach it >to a carrier sheet of paper to take it through the laser printer. >Question is, how do I attach it? Is it safe to send tape or adhesives >through the printer? I've done this with no problems, I use Highland 6200 (a standard type of inexpensive office supply tape from Staples) "invisible" tape. I researched it and found it to be made of cellulose acetate (not marked on the box, of course). That has a melting point of 403°F, which is just within the media requirements specification of my HP LJ1200 laser printer (200°C or 392°F) for 0.1 second to withstand the fusion roller. The adhesive is not specifically rated for this, but I've had no problems. You could always use real high temperature tape (Polyimide with silicone adhesive) if you want to be really safe. At your own risk etc. etc. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" .....speffKILLspam@spam@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

At 11:53 PM 20/11/02 -0800, you wrote: >If you're paranoid, buy some laser-printable labels, and use THEM as tape. > >BillW That's actually a pretty good idea Bill. My image drum fried out so now I might have to do my prints off at a copy shop. And you know how paranoid some places are about anything that they haven't supplied. I've been playing with taking the images into PSP and making a 8x11 sized mosaic but then I have to make 5-6 boards of the same type. Dave -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email EraseMElistservspam_OUTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

I will print my PCB layout on the printer. Then I cut a piece of Press N Peel larger than that and tape it over the printed area on the sheet of paper by placing scotch tape around the perimeter. Then rerun it through the printer. Then I pull the tape off and iron it. I measure the temperature of the iron to make sure its in the recommended range and I have found that it does a much better job. Good luck, Fred {Quote hidden}>From: Josh Koffman <@spam@listsjoshKILLspam3MTMP.COM> >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list <KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> >To: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU >Subject: [OT]: Press-n-Peel PCB Transfer Film >Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 01:30:19 -0600 > >Hi all. I recently bought some Press-n-Peel Blue PCB transfer film >(http://www.techniks.com/how_to.htm) from Peter Anderson. This is why I >have been fighting lately with Eagle. > >Press-n-Peel comes in 8-1/2 by 11 inch sheets. Since none of my PCBs >will be that large (Eagle freeware limit), I want to cut down the sheets >so I can get more than one PCB out of a sheet. I figure I can attach it >to a carrier sheet of paper to take it through the laser printer. >Question is, how do I attach it? Is it safe to send tape or adhesives >through the printer? Any other ideas? > >Thanks, > >Josh >-- >A common mistake that people make when trying to design something >completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete >fools. > -Douglas Adams > >-- >http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! >email spamBeGonelistservspamBeGonemitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email TakeThisOuTlistservEraseMEspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

That's exactly what I plan on doing, I just wasn't sure what tape I could pass through the printer. Do you have any problems with the toner that's already on the paper getting stuck to the back of the Press-n-Peel? And how do you measure the temperature of your iron? Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams fred jones wrote: > I will print my PCB layout on the printer. Then I cut a piece of Press N > Peel larger than that and tape it over the printed area on the sheet of > paper by placing scotch tape around the perimeter. Then rerun it through > the printer. Then I pull the tape off and iron it. I measure the > temperature of the iron to make sure its in the recommended range and I have > found that it does a much better job. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email RemoveMElistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Great idea Bill! That's likely what I will use as I'm sure I have some laser labels around here somewhere. Thanks! Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams William Chops Westfield wrote: > If you're paranoid, buy some laser-printable labels, and use THEM as tape. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservEraseME.....mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Do you have a model number for that tape? Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams Sid Weaver wrote: > Usse 3M double sided tape. Works for me. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email EraseMElistservmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

I haven't had any problems doing it this way. I use a "pocket thermometer by coverite used in model airplane covering: www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB352&P=7 I had problems the first few times I tried the PnP and found the iron was way too hot. I adjusted the iron using that thermometer and it worked fine after that. Good luck, FJ {Quote hidden}>From: Josh Koffman <RemoveMElistsjoshEraseMEEraseME3MTMP.COM> >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list <RemoveMEPICLISTspam_OUTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> >To: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU >Subject: Re: [OT]: Press-n-Peel PCB Transfer Film >Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 11:38:10 -0600 > >That's exactly what I plan on doing, I just wasn't sure what tape I >could pass through the printer. Do you have any problems with the toner >that's already on the paper getting stuck to the back of the >Press-n-Peel? And how do you measure the temperature of your iron? > >Josh >-- >A common mistake that people make when trying to design something >completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete >fools. > -Douglas Adams > >fred jones wrote: > > I will print my PCB layout on the printer. Then I cut a piece of Press >N > > Peel larger than that and tape it over the printed area on the sheet of > > paper by placing scotch tape around the perimeter. Then rerun it >through > > the printer. Then I pull the tape off and iron it. I measure the > > temperature of the iron to make sure its in the recommended range and I >have > > found that it does a much better job. > >-- >http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! >email EraseMElistservspamspamBeGonemitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email RemoveMElistservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> Press-n-Peel comes in 8-1/2 by 11 inch sheets. Since none of my PCBs > will be that large (Eagle freeware limit), I want to cut down the sheets > so I can get more than one PCB out of a sheet. I figure I can attach it > to a carrier sheet of paper to take it through the laser printer. > Question is, how do I attach it? Is it safe to send tape or adhesives > through the printer? Any other ideas? I have used that stuff for years, it's the best! I use computer labels to attach it to a piece of paper. Just along the top edge, not all the way around the stuff. Hint: First I print on the paper, so I know where to put the blue stuff. But be consistent where you input the paper, if you input through the single-sheet feeder, do it that way first on the paper and then with your sandwich, so the registration will be better. Also, don't print too near the top of the paper, the printer's pickup mechanism is more likely to hiccup on the extra layers there. Cheers, Bob -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservSTOPspamspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Well, I went around to a few hobby stores around here, none of them had anything equivalent. I did pick up an oven thermometer, you know, one for measuring the temperature of your baking oven. I'm thinking about modifying the little stand it has so that it can hang off the tip of the iron (when the iron is standing up) and the back of the thermometer will rest against the iron surface. I know these thermometers are meant to measure air temperature, not surface temperature...so...does anyone think this will work? I wish I had an infrared thermometer. Also, the Press-n-Peel website details the step of applying a layer of tape to the board after ironing to clean up the traces. Does anyone do this? Is it neccesary, and does it make that big a difference? Oh, and one more thing...is it permissable to reuse ferric chloride? Thanks :) Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams fred jones wrote: > > I haven't had any problems doing it this way. I use a "pocket thermometer > by coverite used in model airplane covering: > www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB352&P=7 > I had problems the first few times I tried the PnP and found the iron was > way too hot. I adjusted the iron using that thermometer and it worked fine > after that. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spamBeGonelistservSTOPspamEraseMEmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> Also, the Press-n-Peel website details the step of applying a layer of > tape to the board after ironing to clean up the traces. Does anyone do > this? Is it neccesary, and does it make that big a difference? The blue stuff sometimes thickens traces too much, so I think that's what they are talking about. That must be a new tip from them, I've never done it. But I do inspect the board carefully and use an X-acto blade on things that look like trouble. > Oh, and one more thing...is it permissable to reuse ferric chloride? Absolutely. Use it until it gives up. The Radio Shack stuff is very weak, so you won't be able to reuse it very many times. It always works best when warm, like hot-tub temperature (130F). You can use a fishtank heater if you build an etching station, or just heat it in a double boiler or (dare I say it) microwave oven. Cheerful regards, Bob -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email KILLspamlistservspamBeGonemitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

----- Original Message ----- From: "Josh Koffman" <EraseMElistsjoshEraseME3MTMP.COM> To: <@spam@PICLIST@spam@spam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 3:03 AM Subject: Re: [OT]: Press-n-Peel PCB Transfer Film > > Oh, and one more thing...is it permissable to reuse ferric chloride? > > Thanks :) > Josh Definately! I use it many times - eventually, you get a "sludge" left in the bottom of the solution, and it doesn't etch very well any more - that's when you get rid of it! Also, it's worth heating your ferric chloride for faster results each time (can't remember the optimum temperature - someone else will!) Chris -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spamBeGonepiclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu