Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016)

Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by timonoko on Saturday May 01, 2021 @01:54PM (#27008292)

Can you make printed circuits by filling the ink cartridge with acid? I know it does not happen rightaway, put if you keep plotting same pattern and occasionally wipe the board clean. Eventually it would work for sure, but how long would it take? It would be slow but much easier than any other method.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by Animats on Saturday May 01, 2021 @02:06PM (#27008394)

There's conductive ink. There are pens that dispense an etchant. There's making printed circuit boards by iron-on toner transfer. There are little CNC routers for making boards.

All these approaches are worse than the standard photolithography process with plated through holes. It's so cheap and easy to get boards made now. Upload files, pay a few dollars, boards come back.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by craftinator on Saturday May 01, 2021 @02:21PM (#27008519)

I've heard this so many times, but making your own is just a strong learning experience you don't get when you purchase them. You get exposure to mistakes!

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by Animats on Saturday May 01, 2021 @03:04PM (#27008884)

Most of the alternative techniques are not precise enough for modern surface mount pin spacing. At 2.5mm pin spacing (0.10 inch, DIPs) they work. At 0.5mm spacing, not so much. It's mostly for retro projects that use through-hole components.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by xyzzy_plugh on Saturday May 01, 2021 @05:19PM (#27009940)

> It's mostly for retro projects that use through-hole components.

Welp now I feel very old.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by aidenn0 on Saturday May 01, 2021 @07:13PM (#27010789)

> Welp now I feel very old.

Your username is a reference to colossal cave adventure; I'd be disappointed if you were younger than me (40).

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by xyzzy_plugh on Saturday May 01, 2021 @09:43PM (#27011666)

You raise a good point, but alas you are less than a decade my senior.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by IgorPartola on Saturday May 01, 2021 @02:13PM (#27008454)

I looked into making my own PCBs and came out with the impression that unless you need truly rapid prototyping JLCPCB is just better on all other accounts.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by StavrosK on Saturday May 01, 2021 @08:52PM (#27011367)

JLCPCB is excellent, but there's nothing rapid about them. Sometimes you just want to iterate on a board, and 4-6 weeks per iteration is loooong. Admittedly, 5.5 out of the 6 weeks is postage, but still.

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Re:Pen plotters: not just output devices (2016) by NegativeLatency on Saturday May 01, 2021 @02:00PM (#27008352)

Probably some kind of photo resist would work

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