PCB DESIGN - All In One v2.5 - 32 inputs with 74HC4851

[gastric]

The PDF didn't print properly for me. It appears to be the same size as the Word attempt I made. Drill holes for the components don't fit properly. It's easiest to test against the 40P as it's the longest component on the board so a little deviation in dimensions are obvious once you line up the first pin and the last pin overshoots the hole completely.

Note my results could be due to printer drivers or other issues. But I'm doubtful. I guess if I had some verifiable test images to print to confirm my printer wasn't mangling the sizes that would eliminate my printer as the issue VS any of the images, methods of resizing, or files provided.

If you don't yet have board components you can use a spare IDE cable to help gauge the 40P connector holes on your prints. It's not as good as the actual connector pins which are much obvious visually but you should be able to see if they are dead on or not with the ribbon cable or if they are skewed slightly.

[jman 31]

Is your printed image 5-3/16" x 2-9/16" ? I'm giving this a lot of thought. It seems as though some are having success and others are not. Seems that Synthex is pretty confident that the sizing is correct, but it comes to my programs as a huge gif. I wish I had the components here to size it to. I could get it real close that way.

[dmitri]

I printed it and it came out exactly of the right size. Just as the pdf file below which I made with a bit higher resolution.

[gastric]

My images result in a print 139 mm x 69 mm. This is the same size using MS Word scaling or the PDF provided. So the good news is the results are identical.

Maybe I'm being to anal about the print out, or my expectations are incorrect. But I expect the pins of the components to all be perfectly centered in the holes on the print out. Here's what I'm seeing.

Pins on left of 40P centered on the holes.



Once you get to the other side the pins are no longer centered, or even on the hole in general.



Now, I could move the component over slightly which would possibly make the pins of the 40P all fit into the holes if I stuff it in there which might require some minor force since the pins aren't dead-centered to the holes across the entire connector. But maybe that's how it's supposed to be?

Here's images if I push the pins to what appears to be the absolute edge of the holes.

Pins on the edge of the holes.


Center of the connector the pins are centered.


Then on the opposite edge of the holes.

[jman 31]

I would expect them to line up also. I don't know what to tell you except maybe to scale it up slightly until you get it to fit your components. I don't know enough about it to give any educated advice. I would check some of the other components and if they are all to small then I would think that scaling it up would do what you are after. It might take some playing with but I'm sure you could get it closer than that.

Jman

[dmitri]

My images result in a print 139 mm x 69 mm. This is the same size using MS Word scaling or the PDF provided. So the good news is the results are identical.

My prints come out exactly 140x70 mm. Your paper shrinks once out of the printer:)

[gastric]

My paper does appear to be every so slightly smaller after going through the printer. But not a full mm in each direction smaller.

Regardless, based on the images I've provided here and the fact the dimensions are within 1 mm does it look I should have any issue jamming the components into the holes? Just looking for a vote of confidence before I expend the effort (hopefully not another 12 hours) attempting my transfer and etching. The 40P is the biggest component so it's the most extreme example of the pins not being 100% centered throughout the entire connector.

By the way, the PDFs are the way to go!

[dmitri]

I'd suggest you to get a perfect match before printing for etching. Forcing parts into slightly off holes can become nerves breaking experience.

[gastric]

OK, I believe I've conquered STEP 1 - Print the friggin' PCB image.

* Open MS Word 2003 (happens to be what I have)
* Drag-and-drop the GIF into Word
* Right click the oversized GIF in Word
* Choose Format Picture
* Click the Size tab
* In height enter 2.785 (note it is scaled to 2.8" in the attached Word doc to account for my printing sizing issues, whatever that may be)
* Change no other settings in this dialog
* Click OK
* MS Word scales the image, maintaining aspect ratio
* Print on my matte black (as opposed to shiney) new Samsung ML-2851ND laser printer @ 600dpi
* Output appears to be an excellent on-center fit for the socket components I tested

Now, I can attempt some toner transfer to one of the blank boards and see how that goes.

The bad news is I have 20 more grey hairs from this considerably frustrating process... of PRINTING.

The good news is we now have much better directions and options for the next batch of DIYers to print these boards.

I've attached my Word doc for others that might find it handy.

[dmitri]

OK, I believe I've conquered STEP 1 - Print the friggin' PCB image.

* Open MS Word 2003 (happens to be what I have)
* Drag-and-drop the GIF into Word
* Right click the oversized GIF in Word
* Choose Format Picture
* Click the Size tab
* In height enter 2.8"
* Change no other settings in this dialog
* Click OK
* MS Word scales the image, maintaining aspect ratio
* Print on my matte black (as opposed to shiney) new Samsung ML-2851ND laser printer @ 600dpi
* Output appears to be an excellent on-center fit for the socket components I tested

Now, I can attempt some toner transfer to one of the blank boards and see how that goes.

The bad news is I have 20 more grey hairs from this considerably frustrating process... of PRINTING.

The good news is we now have much better directions and options for the next batch of DIYers to print these boards.

I've attached my Word doc for others that might find it handy.

I disagree it is "much better directions and options for the next batch of DIYers to print these boards". Definitely your setup (I don't know exactly why) produces prints of slightly incorrect size. Most of people out there will probably have setups which produce correct prints. Those who will get incorrect sizes won't necessarily have an error margin of the same amount as yours. Hence, without knowing exactly by how much and why your prints are slightly off, your instruction may lead to even larger size errors for those unfortunate.