Silkscreen/white ink option enable

[agustinbmed]

Hi,

I'm unsure if this is the right spot to ask, but I've been wondering if this awesome machine has the capability to print awesome patterns or solder dispensing and traces, wouldn't it be equally as easy to simply dispense white silkscreen/text and pad naming labels?

This would be amazing! making prototype boards extremely close to the real mass produced boards!

[mharris]

I think the main thing is finding a paint or ink that is sufficiently high viscosity that it can be extruded the same as the ink and paste, and that it is high enough temperature to be able to get heat cured. Then it's just a matter of loading a syringe up and giving it a go from what I understand

[mewertow]

Hey @agustinbmed,

As @mharris mentioned, once you find a material that works, it's pretty much just loading it up and trying it out. However,, depending on the material, getting good print quality can take quite a bit of experimentation.

We haven't tried printing silkscreen inks, but if there's enough interest we may be able to give it a shot in future. There's also a thread on experimenting with other materials for the V-One here.

• Matt

[michael]

Does anyone even know what type of ink fablabs use when printing the silkscreen graphic layer? The only ink I find when searching for this is etch resist, which is not intended for graphics printing on the soldermask. Seems that nobody at all is interested in printing their own silkscreen graphics, which is odd because it would be so easy to do multicolor designs. Think of conference and workshop badges, for example.

[mewertow]

@michael Typically the inks used for silk-screening are an epoxy-based marking ink - googling 'Epoxy PCB silkscreen ink' or 'PCB notation ink' will give some results. From what I know, they're not typically available in low volume.

For example:
http://www.sunchemical.com/product/notation-ink/
(note I haven't tried this out, just showing the type of ink)

[michael]

Hello Matt,

Yes, I got that far too. Searches come up with one or two results of which the Sun Chemical notation ink is found. I found another one called Electra Polymers. It's only been a few days, but neither have responded to my simple questions. A fab house told me not to try it because it's nearly impossible. I'll keep trying to reach people who know more about this or can deliver the inks.

[pion]

Bumping this topic. On my small board I’m finding it quite frustrating to have to print component references & other text on the copper layer. It complicates routing, eats precious real estate, reduces ground plane coverage, and sometimes forces an awkward positioning of text which is farther away from its intended area than I would like.

Can the folks at Voltera create a silkscreening ink and corresponding support in the software?

[Marten]

I would really like to have silkscreen capability as well.

I have tried 3 heat curing paints so far without success.

The issues I ran into were the viscosity, the paints were too thin, leaking from the nozzle and spreading out on the board too much.
And also, although they were heat curing paints, they would already air dry in the nozzle and the nozzles became clogged and unusable again.

The experimentation with this became a bit expensive for me, I have tried different size nozzles and they would clog up beyond the point that I could clean them and re-use them all the time. And without any progress being made.

[Pyrophreek]

I am curious, have you considered using UV cure gel nail polish?
Something like this: https://www.amazon.ca/Vishine-Gelpolish-Professional-Manicure-Varnish/dp/B01EXDORWQ
Should be more viscous, and shouldn’t dry out in the tube.
Just an idea.

[AlanDewey]

I believe we could get sufficient printing resolution if someone could figure out how to mount a “Sharpie” marker.

Keep in mind we are not making boards in high-volume for an assembly line, so just having a few component designators on the board would be a great aid to me.

I tried some acrylic silk-screen printing ink. I got it to work ‘acceptably.’ It does not stick to the board real well, but lasts long enough for me to populate the board.