Hi,
Don't you now any links to sites that explain this with pictures?
and do you know where to buy equipment to do this?
Thanks for the many replies :)
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., JanRwl@A... wrote:
In a message dated 06-Dec-01 10:10:12 Central Standard Time,
thor918@o... writes:
Does anybody know how to print on top of the pcb.
Thor: This is done by "silk-screening". A photographically-
made "screen"
(once made only of silk, but I think, nowadays, some tougher
polyester is
used?) is used as a stencil, and PAINT is "squeegied" onto the
board. The
screen is liquid-tight in areas where you do NOT want the paint,
and only the
"screen" (open weave of the "silk" cloth) is clear, allowing paint
to squeeze
through. This is an "art" which is used in more than just PCB
work! All
kinds of posters, signs, labels, etc., are made by the
familiar "silk-screen"
method.
HOWEVER! If you just MUST have some labelling on the "top" of a
PCB, but
wanna make only ONE, and NOT spend all that for the frame, silk-
screen stock,
developer, squeegie-tool, paint, etc., you can use IMPRESSION
lettering
and/or patterns. Good art-supply stores will have more than just
letters in
that stuff! You want white or maybe yellow, but NOT black, etc.,
as those
colors hardly show on a FR-4 board. Once you have "rubbed off"
your entire
pattern, words, labels, etc., then SPRAY the top with clear enamel
or
lacquer. AFTER you have etched! And be careful not to get any of
that on the
"copper side"! It will look as nice as your steady hand can do
that! I have
done this countless times! Also, for making "professional looking"
panels!
Dial-numbers, ON/OFF, etc. Just SPRAY it after all the rubbing-
off/on is
done!
Jan Rowland
