RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Why do you want to do that?

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

So I can make circuit boards.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Interesting idea.  

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Presume you are thinking of using the print material as an etch resist?   There are far simpler ways to do photo resist.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Simpler ways to get a high resolution photo resist that does not requre an intermetary step where you have to but a thin coat of liquid on a copper clad board, let it dry then use a mask generated from a photoplotter (which doesn't exist in my country) or a high resolution black and white HP laser printer (which still leaves tiny pits)? Do tell.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Not sure what to say - but if you can't do it yourself, there are shops that will print your Gerbers for pennies and hand you laminated multilayers boards for dollars.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Except that those shops are 6 weeks away! I don't want to wait 6 weeks to find out a component footprint was wrong, and I have to do it all over again.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

You don't check using 1:1 paper prints?

First place I checked:

Quick Turn PCB and PCBA
As short as two day for bare PCB. Online order no cut off time!

Second place:

Avanti Circuits provides high-quality Quick-Turn PCB at affordable prices, to hobbyists and engineers all over the world. Depending on your PCB requirements, we have a fast turn-around time of just 24 hours. 

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

In any case - why not ask the vendor, Prusa, if you can use fiberglass and copper as the bed.  They are the ones that most likely able to tell you if it is supported or possible.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

And all of those PCB vendors take a month to ship to my country. 

I would ask Prusa if copper could be used; if I knew how.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Posted by: Tim

In any case - why not ask the vendor, Prusa, if you can use fiberglass and copper as the bed.  They are the ones that most likely able to tell you if it is supported or possible.

Concur.  The best answer would come from the manufacturer

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

How about

or

or

do these help?

Joan

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

And no nasty chemicals to dispose of.  Just a bit of dust to control.

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

How about using the LCD masking that is already in the machine and just placing the PCB on top of it without the vat? Or am I missing something?

Be aware that I have no clue what I’m talking about 🙂

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Hi Malte, 

You saw something I didn't... I was responding as if this was one of the fdm threads.  but its an SL1 thread

your idea might have legs, if 120 seconds is long enough to expose photo sensitive pcb. but after that time, the sl1 would release the pcb because the print bed would rise by the layer height. and the tilt may disturb pcb location
i guess you would have to find a way to disable the resin test, and modify the bed levelling to cater for the pcb thickness

 regardsJoan

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

If UV curing on select parts of the PCB is the objective, what about removing the vat and build plate, and design/print a “clamping” device that holds the PCB in place using the locating and fastening features for the vat? I.e. securing the PCB to the display unit with the vat screws. Then it can tilt as much as it wants and still be aligned. I assume 120 seconds is the maximum exposure time allowed by prusaslicer/sl1 per layer?

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Could I just drop the pcb into the vat and let gravity hold it down?

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

Shawn, the vat tilts between layers so gravity will point in different directions at different times...

the pcb is likely to slide around

Joan

RE: Using a copper bed in stead of an aluminum bed

I only need 1 layer