(easily) etch images in copper

Step 5: Print onto the transparency

**WARNING--You are about to put a plastic transparency into your laser printer. I've done this a bunch and haven't had any trouble (I have a HP laserjet 1200), but you should be aware that your printer has a very hot fuser and you are going to put plastic through it. I've never heard of anyone having any trouble, but I just want to mention it here. Are you done ignoring my warning? Cool--let's go on**

Load a transparency into your printer's tray.
Print your image exactly as you did before. Remember which side of the transparency your ink is on. Maybe mark it. If your image has text, this isn't a big deal--you'll just put it onto the copper so that the text (which you printed backwards, remember) looks correct (like normal text).

Comments

[ANKTSUNAMUNH]

Ok, there IS a special kind of transparencies intended for use with laser printers. But If you can't find it them, you don't have a laser printer, or you just don't want to experiment with your laser printer, you can always get a simple photocopy of your design. Photocopiers use a black toner wich is similiar to the one inside the laser printer. Therefore, it works the same way: you can iron transfer any toner-printed image onto your copper plate.

[nekoheehee]

I suggest using glossy paper or even pages from a magazine. after its printed on the paper you use a hot iron and iron the ink onto the metal. soak the metal and paper in water until the paper gets mushy and carefully rub it away. if your careful the toner will be left on the metal. it works for me every time :)

[August Grey]

I used magazine paper today and didn't have a very smooth transfer. I spent about 5 minutes moving the iron in circles, but the paper didn't adhere to the copper and my toner transferred very faintly. Is there something I missed?

[ooda55]

Try turning your laser printers dpi and quality up to max so you have a nice thick bit of toner to melt onto the PCB

[tnielsenhayden]

If you've just put the wrong kind of transparency or mailing labels through your printer or copier, and you now have hot goo adhering to the internal works, run a bunch of sheets of paper through as fast as you can. If you're lucky, the hot goo will stick to the paper and so be removed from the machinery. If it doesn't work, you're not out much. If you've overinked a mimeograph or small offset press, this same trick will clean out the excess ink. Keep a stack of misprinted pages (a.k.a. waster sheets) on hand so you don't use clean paper. Waster sheets can be reused multiple times. You just have to let the ink dry between uses.

[bulbusbolocks]

Er, yes, I once ruined a laser printer by putting the wrong kind of transparency through it. Make sure you use transparencies specifically intended for laser printers. Standard transparencies will almost certainly melt and spread goop all over the internals of your printer.

[jojopyro]

just a thought... if paper survives laser printers fine, why won't plastic?

[prank]

The worry is the fuser in a laser printer--there's this big hot fuser at the end of the printer that melts the toner onto the paper, and the risk is that the fuser melts the transparency. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to (toner melts really easily, and it looks like it's either not hot enough or the plastic moves too quickly to melt)

[OzLandish]

Transparencies for laser printers should be fine. I've never had any problem. Toner itself is primarily made of plastic. Also, BEWARE...the toner used in late model Brother laser printers will not work.

[jimsinspace]

no worries graffix makes a product that can be printed on with lazer and another on inkjet. you can find this at http://www.taws.com...we ship of course.

[trebuchet03]

can't remember the specific model... but some lexmark laser printers will be ruined by putting transparencies through them.... Even when we put signs on them - the teachers (this was at a high school) still did it :/

[mtcruse]

A tip - DON'T use transparencies intended for use with ink-jet type printers in ANY printer that uses a fuser - the coating that receives/retains the ink can do some really interesting damage in the fuser section when heated. Been there.