|
Hank,
Have a look at this project.
http://techref.massmind.org/techref/pcb/etch/c84-st.htm
I found one these printers in a second hand store $10, but have not
had time to give it try. There are also some videos on youtube.
Motherlode of info
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30951
Mark
Last edited by mark_s; - 26th August 2010 at 16:33. Reason: add link
|
Hi Mark,Originally Posted by mark_s
Thanks for the links....I've gots me a 'epson' donor (I coaxed my work into scrapping it - it's sat collecting dust in the storeroom for ages - they also had some unopened Durabright ink cartridges in the stationary cupbaord :-) ).
A perfectly functionable Epson C66, about to be mullered...
Sidecheeks ripped off (literally), after which the case shroud popped off easily enough...
Not sure how much time I'll get to proceed (other things are sumping my time), but just wanted to case the job & get a general vibe for the task at hand
|
|
I will do...but I'm one of those guys that needs the project to "talk to me" - no I don't mean I'm going insane, but now I've stripped it down, there appears to be several options & there's no clear winner at the moment...so rather than rush into it, over the coming days/weeks eventually one option will percolate to the top.
Quick option - have this printer print onto pcbs only (that would just mean raising the print head a little - easy)
Less quick option - convert this to a flat bed printer, where I can feed all manner of stuff below the print head. This would need a significantly different approach (much more clearance need below)...the roller 'feed' would need to be binned - a leadscrew would likely need t be the way etc etc.
the initial probem facing many conversions is that there's an optical 'paper detect' sensor - the printer feeds the paper in, but then backs it out a little until the leading edge of the paper is detected - it the proceeds to print .....now that's a great idea when printing on paper, but for pcbs...all the to'ing & fro'ing is not welcome.
so at this early stage, I can feel a pic being brought into the equation to spoof the optical sensor! (something that surprisingly nobody seems to have done - they mainly go low tech with a mechanical approach to spoofing the optical sensor)
Last edited by HankMcSpank; - 1st September 2010 at 11:49.
|
Don't worry about the time this will take. I'll be subcribed to this thread for ever (sort of speak...)
Now about the sensor, why that bothers you?
If it works, leave it. I suppose it contributes to the initial position of the paper/pcb, right?
Ioannis
|
If you have some sort of tray to place the PCBs on then the sensor could be used as a locator as it is designed to. Then when the etching is finished the PCBs could run again for the silks.
Maybe...
Dave
Always wear safety glasses while programming.
|
At this early stage, I'm not even sure why it bothers me!
I know it's certainly appears to be a hassle for a lot of diy 'direct to pcb' printer conversions.....it's my understanding that it's only role is to find the leading edge of the paper - but the end goal here is near perfect repeatability & 'registration' - not sure how achievable that will be with a system that use friction rollers & an optical edge finder.
....but like I say, it'll become clearer in head the best strategy for me to pursue over the coming days.
|
I do not like the friction too. And this technology is not suposed to have good repeatability. Every time the rollers move the paper/pcb/whatever, they are losing a little of their diameter. So it is sure that this cannot be very accurate.
Another idea might be to use the steppers that move the rollers, to move a table having the pcb on it. Difficult as there are no datas about the motors and the gear involved.
Ioannis
Members who have read this thread : 0You do not have permission to view the list of names.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks