Using 3D printer to deposit etch resist for PCB prototyping
I am wandering if anybody tried to use 3D printer for PCB prototyping..
I imagine the first layer of filament could be used as etch-resist.
The replacement of print head with some sort of pen assembly (Rotring drafting pen holder for example? or permanent marker?) may be the better option.
My question is, how to convert gerber files into stl and useable g-code?
Thanks in advance!
I imagine the first layer of filament could be used as etch-resist.
The replacement of print head with some sort of pen assembly (Rotring drafting pen holder for example? or permanent marker?) may be the better option.
My question is, how to convert gerber files into stl and useable g-code?
Thanks in advance!
Comments
http://reprap.org/wiki/Plotting
(google gives lot of results)
The problem is that filament will not stick reliable on the copper side of PCB .
Result will be underetching .
Better way to make pcb on a printer is to work with a blue laser to expose the tracks.
An other possibility is to engrave BUT you need a rocksolid mechanics otherwise
you need a lot of engraver bits as the tips are extremely sensitve and will brake
Data conversion is a problem... Yes, there is a lot of google results for converters but none that I know of is as good as old, Autotrax DOS utility (plotter and transparency, marking holes in trough hole pads for drill guiding)
Blue laser (plus Riston photoresist) is good idea.....
covering pcb copper just with some spray paint (harden paint 24h) and scratching the tracks on homemade cnc.
(works similar to a drag knife)
in the past i used an old Graphtec Penplotter but unfortunately the etch resistant ink i used is no more available.
hopefully i succed with uv-curing paint and blue laser combination but no time at the moment
i use Eagle SW with PCB-Gcode
Originally I wanted to end up with HPGL code (I have two plotters lying around and doing nothing recently).
The next best thing for me seemed to be the g-code (with 3D printer)
so if you can convert your gerber to HPGL , there is a shortcut to Gcode (http://www.cnc-steuerung.com/blog/?p=178)
simple to use program which also converts bitmaps to gcode
once imported eagles cam processor should be able to generate hpgl , gcode etc.
there is a freeware version available so just check it out