Paper bubbles

[DaveC]

Using glossy paper stock (not photo paper) usually found in magazines.

Ran a few sheets through the Brother laser printer and they come out with
bubbles. The paper is actually bulged on both sides wherever bubbles appear.

Other paper (bond, copy paper, etc.) has no issues

The paper doesn't seem really damp, so I doubt it's moisture content
(although I'm open to being proven otherwise).

Ideas?

Thanks.

 

[David H. Lipman]

Using glossy paper stock (not photo paper) usually found in magazines.

Ran a few sheets through the Brother laser printer and they come out with
bubbles. The paper is actually bulged on both sides wherever bubbles appear.

Other paper (bond, copy paper, etc.) has no issues

The paper doesn't seem really damp, so I doubt it's moisture content
(although I'm open to being proven otherwise).

Ideas?

The paper is not the kind meant for the heat generated by the fuser element of a laser
printer.

 

[DaveC]

The paper is not the kind meant for the heat generated by the fuser element

of a laser printer.

I'm making printed circuit boards (step 1: print circuit image on thin glossy
magazine paper) following instructions published all over the 'net. Most of
them suggest this type of paper and I've read no other reports of such
problems.

Dave

 

[David H. Lipman]

I'm making printed circuit boards (step 1: print circuit image on thin glossy
magazine paper) following instructions published all over the 'net. Most of
them suggest this type of paper and I've read no other reports of such
problems.

Dave

Please post the make, brand and type of this commercial product.

 

[DaveC]

I figured it out.

I was printing using thin, hard-coated glossy stock but using printer
settings for regular laser printer paper. My printer apparently adjusts the
fuser temperature based on paper weight.

I chose "thin paper" and the bubbles went away.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[David H. Lipman]

I figured it out.

I was printing using thin, hard-coated glossy stock but using printer
settings for regular laser printer paper. My printer apparently adjusts the
fuser temperature based on paper weight.

I chose "thin paper" and the bubbles went away.

Thanx for updating the thread.

 

[DaveC]

Yep, I've used magazine paper too, Sunday paper magazine supplement type

paper, that comes out nice n' flat, no bubbling.

Could I suggest something? Slip the wife some shopping money then get
the clothes iron..... and try the paper you are having problems with,
*but do* use a piece of greaseproof paper or kitchen towel between the
paper and iron... just to prevent any marks on the iron - you'll need a
pretty high setting, just hold it on for a few seconds til the paper
gets quite warm. See what happens.

There is one problem however!
Brother laser printers don't use toner as we know, it's plastic
particles and the fusing temperature is much higher than normal toner
powder. There's plenty reading on this subject on the internet and them
not being suitable for PCB.

I'm going off what I have read, I always use Samsung and they proved OK
even the El' cheapo models..... one thing to remember is with PCBs you
are laying a larger area of toner down compared to normal printing, this
'might' play a part as well.

You might say where the paper is bubbling, might be a clue here, is it
on the toner and the the blank areas?

davy

Thanks for your comments.

I don't need help with the bubbling since it no longer does it if I choose
the proper paper weight in the driver settings.

To transfer the toner to the board I'm using a modified (er... hacked)
8.5-inch wide laminator that heats to 330F. I'm getting transfer from glossy
paper to the copper board, but not perfect. It looks good but after etching
it is obvious that there were tiny holes in the toner that let etchant
through to the copper. If I did a tinning of the traces it would probably
make a passable circuit.

But I want to find out what is the cause and fix the problem.

Dave