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Printing transparencies for your own Printed Circuit Boards with an inkjet prin — Parallax Forums

Printing transparencies for your own Printed Circuit Boards with an inkjet prin

LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
edited 2006-06-17 15:59 in General Discussion
I just completed a nice little board design using Eagle 4.15 and wanted to get transparencies for production.
I am very excited about the board and wanted to get it done this weekend.

I am learning 'the hard way' that not all inkjets are the same.

In the past I used an H/P Inkjet Printer [noparse][[/noparse]which I have used happily for many, many years], but I finally was swayed into replacing it with a Canon PIXMA iP1000.· I thought the ink was cheaper, but I found their cartridges were half as big as the H/P's.·

In sum, the CANON·ink is NO GOOD for printing transparencies.· It immediately beads up on the film into a worthless image.
So I have to either print to plain paper and·locate an appropriate copier OR I have to buy another H/P Inkjet!!

Intermediate transfer via copier can be·a bit·tricky as some will cause an unwanted dimensional change.

Generally, I have preferred H/P as they always seem to go the distance in terms of quality.· Not only is the ink better, but their printers are quieter.· So it looks as though I will have to buy back into their good graces.

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"If you want more fiber, eat the package.· Not enough?· Eat the manual."········
···················· Tropical regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

Comments

  • StarManStarMan Posts: 306
    edited 2006-06-16 15:55
    Kramer,

    Have you tried a laser printer?· I have a Brother HL-1240 that I bought six years ago for around $200 and the quality is still excellent and the scaling is dead on.· It prints suberbly on transparencies and the press-n-peel pcb transfer sheets.· It only prints B&W though.

    Chris I.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-06-17 05:41
    Thanks,
    My box of transparencies mentions using a laser printer, but I have been unwilling to buy one.
    It is expensive. I suspect I would just print more and spend more.

    Also, I would have to make space for it in a very crowded room.
    I suppose I am being silly. I don't want a T.V. either as I never get as much reading done.

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    "If you want more fiber, eat the package.· Not enough?· Eat the manual."········
    ···················· Tropical regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • Clock LoopClock Loop Posts: 2,069
    edited 2006-06-17 10:04
    Would a FAX MACHINE work here?

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    Meh. Nothing here, move along.
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2006-06-17 10:25
    Inkjet transparency film is different from Laser transparency film. I suggest you get a box of Inkjet transparency film that's compatable with your Canon. A quick search on Google will reveal several sources.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-06-17 15:51
    Thanks Forrest,
    With all the packaging all in Chinese, it never occured to me that I might have the wrong material.
    I previously used them sucessfully with several H/P Inkjet projects, but you seem to be on track.

    My box of 100 doesn't say anything about use with Inkjects; just copiers, laser printers, and markers.
    Please excuse the sour grapes.

    BPM, it is kind of hard to say that a FAX machine will or won't.· These days they come in three formats: heat sensitive roll page, inkjet printers, and laser printers.

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    "If you want more fiber, eat the package.· Not enough?· Eat the manual."········
    ···················· Tropical regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

    Post Edited (Kramer) : 6/17/2006 3:54:35 PM GMT
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2006-06-17 15:59
    Kramer,
    Been there, done that. I exclusively have HP inkjets here and wasn't able to print on transparencies until I switched to the stuff specifically made for inkjet printers.
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