I used to do toner transfer long ago. I never tried it myself, but I remember seeing a blog with a laser printer modified to heat a toner transfer packet. maybe it was a lamination machine.
Fantastic, thanks for the link!
I use some cheep lamination machine (I got locally in a supermarket for 20$) it works perfectly for few years .. max width it can take is A4 .. you need to pass the pcb trough it few times but it works like a charm
[quote author="MickM"]Hello Ian;
I just found this:
http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=ar ... superfuser (http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=article&name=superfuser)
Then bought one from amazon.com ($20).[/quote]
What thickness of board can you run through that unit?
I've been literally using that laminator for that purpose not 5 minutes ago :)
Sadly, it didn't work this time, but that's just because I screwed up cleaning the board. :P I've successfully run normal thickness FR4 through it in the past, although you need to get a screwdriver in the back and pry apart the metal vanes a bit, else the board won't get through.
All the Officeworks here in Brisbane are clearing out the model, so if you can still find one you'll get it cheap.
[quote author="MickM"]Hello Ian;
I just found this:
http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=ar ... superfuser (http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=article&name=superfuser)
Then bought one from amazon.com ($20).[/quote]
The instructions say for the Australia and Europe model only, but has a link for the US version. The pictures on the US/International version show a GBC H-65, which all the inks i find to purchase are in the UK. Anyone know of another model that they would suggest for US purchase that has modding instructions?
I cracked open a GBC Creative Laminator Model 9, #1701861 that I got off of ebay for around $20.
It's a USA model. I found one thermal fuse and ONE thermal switch, unlike the modding instructions
for the US models found on the ultrakeet site which show TWO thermal switches. This is the beige
top model, not the blue one. I haven't tried the PulsarProFX system yet due to printer issues.
Ahhh! Thank you for such details. I'll see what i can locate. I've not ever tried making a PCB yet, but i purchased some Ferric Chloride and copper clad today and am going to try with an iron, but if i can get a laminator that cheap, i'm sure it'll do a better job in the long run (and my wife won't kill me for using the iron).
[quote author="tempmj"]Ahhh! Thank you for such details. I'll see what i can locate. I've not ever tried making a PCB yet, but i purchased some Ferric Chloride and copper clad today and am going to try with an iron, but if i can get a laminator that cheap, i'm sure it'll do a better job in the long run (and my wife won't kill me for using the iron).[/quote]
I ended up getting it off of ebay for $26.00 shipped. I won the bid today, so i'll try and document my process (in case there is anything different than what was outlined).
I wish the suggested parts were avaliable at one distributor to save on shipping, but i was too lazy to find a comparable part to where i could order on one site... so i have my mouser and digikey order in.
Shipping for digikey is only $2.41 for USPS, too bad that mouser is so high. Mouser has thermal
cutoffs, but they only go up to 150 degC. Digikey has some thermal switches that might work,
and in a much more reasonable temp range, but they are not an exact fit like the mouser part.
The two exact fit temp switches are either 105-115 degC (stock) or the 157-169 degC switch
that the modding article suggests. That's quite a bit higher. I'd suggest firing it up outside first.
[quote author="JimNarem"]Shipping for digikey is only $2.41 for USPS, too bad that mouser is so high. Mouser has thermal
cutoffs, but they only go up to 150 degC. [/quote]
Just a bit of an aside regarding Mouser shipping. For small orders, Mouser will do USPS if you ask them in your shipping instructions. This will bring the shipping down to a similar cost to Digikey USPS.
[quote author="sdixon"][quote author="JimNarem"]Shipping for digikey is only $2.41 for USPS, too bad that mouser is so high. Mouser has thermal
cutoffs, but they only go up to 150 degC. [/quote]
Just a bit of an aside regarding Mouser shipping. For small orders, Mouser will do USPS if you ask them in your shipping instructions. This will bring the shipping down to a similar cost to Digikey USPS.[/quote]
Any idea if they do this for international orders too? and when is an order 'small'?
[quote author="sdixon"][quote author="JimNarem"]Shipping for digikey is only $2.41 for USPS, too bad that mouser is so high. Mouser has thermal
cutoffs, but they only go up to 150 degC. [/quote]
Just a bit of an aside regarding Mouser shipping. For small orders, Mouser will do USPS if you ask them in your shipping instructions. This will bring the shipping down to a similar cost to Digikey USPS.[/quote]
Great info! I never thought of asking, but I'm sure it would definintely pull the cost down for the small quantities i order (a couple of this and a couple of that at a time).
Sorry, I don't know if Mouser will do first class mail for international. The definition of "small", as I understand it, is that the weight has to be below 13 oz for a package to go first class mail (USPS regulation). Otherwise, Mouser has to choose a different shipping option according to your instructions.