Plotter/printer recommendations

Op Mon, 16 May 2011 21:27:53 +0200 schreef Kirk Sceviour 

<aircrew1@rogers.com>:

Currently I export my PCB artwork straight from Eagle (5.11) to a laser

printer. Unfortunately this tends to create art that needs to be doubled 

up

for use in the exposure box (not dark enough). Besides being a real pain 

on

detailed boards I'm certain this is not getting the most out of Eagle.

 

That being said can anyone tell me a bit about some of the plotters that

show up in the CAM device listings? Will a plotter produce a darker image

than a laser printer for example and which type of device should I be

looking for.

 

I'm strictly a hobbyist however my boards are often fairly complicated

double sided affairs and I'm moving into SMT to lower the footprints. I

need something middle of the road at least.

 

Thanks

Hello Kirk,

Don't know what you use as sheet material in your laser printer, but it 

can make a big difference. Full transparant 'overhead projection' type 

sheets aren't that good. Back when I was making my own PCB's I used 'Mega 

laserstar film'. It's made specially for better toner attachment and you 

get much darker prints with it. If you didn't used it already, it can't 

hurt to try.

Of course the printer (and it settings) make a large difference, but with 

this film I got good results on 3 different laser printers.

I got the sheets from Farnell (..):

Laserstar A4 film 10 sheets

art: 895945

see they still stock it.

Richard.

Op Mon, 16 May 2011 21:27:53 +0200 schreef Kirk Sceviour 

<aircrew1@rogers.com>:

Currently I export my PCB artwork straight from Eagle (5.11) to a laser

printer. Unfortunately this tends to create art that needs to be doubled 

up

for use in the exposure box (not dark enough). Besides being a real pain 

on

detailed boards I'm certain this is not getting the most out of Eagle.

 

That being said can anyone tell me a bit about some of the plotters that

show up in the CAM device listings? Will a plotter produce a darker image

than a laser printer for example and which type of device should I be

looking for.

 

I'm strictly a hobbyist however my boards are often fairly complicated

double sided affairs and I'm moving into SMT to lower the footprints. I

need something middle of the road at least.

 

Thanks

Hello Kirk,

Don't know what you use as sheet material in your laser printer, but it 

can make a big difference. Full transparant 'overhead projection' type 

sheets aren't that good. Back when I was making my own PCB's I used 'Mega 

laserstar film'. It's made specially for better toner attachment and you 

get much darker prints with it. If you didn't used it already, it can't 

hurt to try.

Of course the printer (and it settings) make a large difference, but with 

this film I got good results on 3 different laser printers.

I got the sheets from Farnell (..):

Laserstar A4 film 10 sheets

art: 895945

see they still stock it.

Richard.