My first successful (?) etch - Madbean Quasar

[hammerheadmusicman]

^I enjoyed that one too!

[PhiloB]

Another attempt.  P'n'P Blue this time.

[hammerheadmusicman]

I like PNP blue, it's the only thing I've ever had success with!

[billstein]

That looks great. Good job!

[chromesphere]

I can do a respectable etch, but I think "print density" is one of the key things im missing.  We have 2 HP laser jets at the office, neither have this option.  Increasing print quality to 'pro-res' and removing all toner saving options makes an improvement but still doesnt pack on the toner in solid black areas and leaves those patchy areas.  I'm going to have to look into that.  My etchs would benefit from this change i think.

[aballen]

I learned that using acetone to remove the toner will leave your traces crisp.  Originally I would sand them off.

[Gledison]

One hint from my side:
I was having almost a hundred unsuccessfull transfers! The reason was that i was copying an pasting the layout in order to print several in the same page! I couldnt see tht the reaolution is afected, not visually! But when i printe and used the original pdf file, ive got 100% right! So no copy paste

[selfdestroyer]

The tables turned for my etches once I went to the HP Glossy Presentation paper and a printer I can set the print density to "5" and I iron the heck out of my etches.. I do it until I can see all the traces through the paper. Then I let it cool then I soak it in water and peel the paper off the copper. I use the green scrubby side of a kitchen sponge to clean off all the paper (I really thought this would remove the toner traces but it doesn't) then into the etch bath it goes. I am going to do some more etching tonight and will take some photos of the process again. I think its time to update my tutorial some anyways.

Cody

[catfud]

The tables turned for my etches once I went to the HP Glossy Presentation paper and a printer I can set the print density to "5" and I iron the heck out of my etches..

Hi Cody, what printer do you use (with the print density feature)?

[selfdestroyer]

The tables turned for my etches once I went to the HP Glossy Presentation paper and a printer I can set the print density to "5" and I iron the heck out of my etches..

Hi Cody, what printer do you use (with the print density feature)?

http://music.codydeschenes.com/?page_id=1388
From my blog post:
Laser Printer (HP LaserJet Pro P1102w with ePrint) I set the Print Density to 5 in the menu settings on the printer itself.

It has worked out well and it supports wireless ePrint and airprint. I love it since I can look at a build doc on my ipad and toss it to the printer and start etching.

[lars]

Great first etch! My first etch attempt went straight to the garbage, and many others since then. It is definitely an art, and there are a lot of builders here who excel at it. I recently bought my first prefab board for a project, and I don't think I can go back to trying to etch myself...

[rullywowr]

One hint from my side:
I was having almost a hundred unsuccessfull transfers! The reason was that i was copying an pasting the layout in order to print several in the same page! I couldnt see tht the reaolution is afected, not visually! But when i printe and used the original pdf file, ive got 100% right! So no copy paste

I find that using Inkscape is fine for duplicating PDF layouts and also creating PDF files to print. No problem.

Acetone works great for cleaning board prior to etch as well as removing toner.

My favorite tool for etching is my modified GBC laminator.  There is a how to on the net that shows you how to replace the thermistor inside  and fuse to get a higher temp. Pretty easy and works great.  Better results than an iron and was cheap to make.

[aballen]

Please point me to this article.  My laminator has been more or less useless.  I switches the gears to slow the rollers,  but it just does not get hot enough.

[rullywowr]

Please point me to this article.  My laminator has been more or less useless.  I switches the gears to slow the rollers,  but it just does not get hot enough.

Glad to.  I figured I would just gather a collection of links and make a more permanent thread about performing the mod on common laminators.  The new thread is here, hope it helps shed some light on this:
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=12089.0