Using red-sensitive film with a plotter

R

Rick

Guest
Hi all,

I've just seen the red-light sensitive film that Mega sells
(http://www.megauk.com/plotting_systems.php), along with a very
expensive laser photoplotter.

It occurred to me that the film may be useful on its own, combined
with an old flatbed plotter (I knew I shouldn't have sold it!) and a
laser module. I suppose a CNC machine would work too (but if I could
afford one I'd just cut the board itself).

The laser could be focused to a good point and turned on and off with
the pen up/down signal.

The only catches I can see is that the whole operation needs to be
carried out in a darkroom (Mega sell green safety lights for it).
Also, the film is quite expensive just to trial it as you have to buy
a pack of 50 sheets for Ł95.

Anyone tried this?

Rick.
 
On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:56:58 +0100, Rick <coms@softhome.net> wrote:

Hi all,

I've just seen the red-light sensitive film that Mega sells
(http://www.megauk.com/plotting_systems.php), along with a very
expensive laser photoplotter.

It occurred to me that the film may be useful on its own, combined
with an old flatbed plotter (I knew I shouldn't have sold it!) and a
laser module. I suppose a CNC machine would work too (but if I could
afford one I'd just cut the board itself).

The laser could be focused to a good point and turned on and off with
the pen up/down signal.

The only catches I can see is that the whole operation needs to be
carried out in a darkroom (Mega sell green safety lights for it).
Also, the film is quite expensive just to trial it as you have to buy
a pack of 50 sheets for Ł95.

Anyone tried this?

Rick.
Click to expand...
Very interesting! Why not regular film and a white LED?

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
 
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 17:19:15 -0700, Jim Thompson
<Jim-T@golana_invalid.com> wrote:

On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:56:58 +0100, Rick <coms@softhome.net> wrote:

Hi all,

I've just seen the red-light sensitive film that Mega sells
(http://www.megauk.com/plotting_systems.php), along with a very
expensive laser photoplotter.

It occurred to me that the film may be useful on its own, combined
with an old flatbed plotter (I knew I shouldn't have sold it!) and a
laser module. I suppose a CNC machine would work too (but if I could
afford one I'd just cut the board itself).

The laser could be focused to a good point and turned on and off with
the pen up/down signal.

The only catches I can see is that the whole operation needs to be
carried out in a darkroom (Mega sell green safety lights for it).
Also, the film is quite expensive just to trial it as you have to buy
a pack of 50 sheets for Ł95.

Anyone tried this?

Rick.

Very interesting! Why not regular film and a white LED?

...Jim Thompson
Click to expand...
Hmm...

Do you mean photographic negative film (like for a large-format
camera) or something else?

I never though of using ordinary photo film like that - I have some
around somewhere (in the loft I think) - wonder if it's UV opaque when
exposed (and not when not!) I must dig it out and find out.

Of course, what I really want is a focussed UV laser to draw straight
on to the sensitised board.

Rick.
 
In article <5625lvc5m8j6309q4obp2vahknq78nr6ve@4ax.com>,
Rick <coms@softhome.net> wrote:
Hi all,

I've just seen the red-light sensitive film that Mega sells
(http://www.megauk.com/plotting_systems.php), along with a very
expensive laser photoplotter.

It occurred to me that the film may be useful on its own,
combined with an old flatbed plotter (I knew I shouldn't have
sold it!) and a laser module. I suppose a CNC machine would work
too (but if I could afford one I'd just cut the board itself).
Click to expand...
There was an almost identical photoplotting scheme sold as a
proprietry product in the UK, about 15 years ago.

It was based around the Roland DXY1100/1200 plotter (which was an
A3 flatbed with electrostatic paper grip). The high power UV
source (about 500W) was in a separate fan-cooled box. A 1/4" glass
fibre-optic bundle connected the two, plugging into the pen-holder
of the plotter. I do not know what the optics were on the pen-end,
but pen ran in contact with the film, with the normal pen-lift of
the plotter apparently enough to reduce the UV to obtain a good
light/dark contrast.

The UV film was quite sensitive (compared with other UV films),
and it did require handling in semi dark-room conditions to avoid
fogging. I suppose this sensitivity was needed to get good
exposure at reasonable pen speeds and to avoid having to overplot.

--
Tony Williams.
 
In article <3v35lvcu6gqcmc620697rvlc4nuht436nc@4ax.com>,
Jim Thompson <Jim-T@golana_invalid.com> wrote:

Very interesting! Why not regular film and a white LED?
Click to expand...
Line film would be better because it is less sensitive and has a
high gamma?, so develops to black or clear, with no intermediate
grey scale. It is often green-sensitive, which conveniently allows
working in the darkroom with an ordinary red safelight.

--
Tony Williams.
 
On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 07:57:03 +0100, Tony Williams
<tonyw@ledelec.demon.co.uk> wrote:

In article <5625lvc5m8j6309q4obp2vahknq78nr6ve@4ax.com>,
Rick <coms@softhome.net> wrote:
Hi all,

I've just seen the red-light sensitive film that Mega sells
(http://www.megauk.com/plotting_systems.php), along with a very
expensive laser photoplotter.

It occurred to me that the film may be useful on its own,
combined with an old flatbed plotter (I knew I shouldn't have
sold it!) and a laser module. I suppose a CNC machine would work
too (but if I could afford one I'd just cut the board itself).

There was an almost identical photoplotting scheme sold as a
proprietry product in the UK, about 15 years ago.

It was based around the Roland DXY1100/1200 plotter (which was an
A3 flatbed with electrostatic paper grip). The high power UV
source (about 500W) was in a separate fan-cooled box. A 1/4" glass
fibre-optic bundle connected the two, plugging into the pen-holder
of the plotter. I do not know what the optics were on the pen-end,
but pen ran in contact with the film, with the normal pen-lift of
the plotter apparently enough to reduce the UV to obtain a good
light/dark contrast.

The UV film was quite sensitive (compared with other UV films),
and it did require handling in semi dark-room conditions to avoid
fogging. I suppose this sensitivity was needed to get good
exposure at reasonable pen speeds and to avoid having to overplot.
Click to expand...

Hey, I never thought of a fibre optic guide for the UV - must be
special glass to transmit it though (crown?)

I had a DPX2000 plotter (A2 flatbed) a little while ago, but sold it
on eBay because I didn't have room for it. I really regret it now!!!
 
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