PCB Printer

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The Voltera V-One PCB Printer

The Voltera V-One brings quick turn PCBs to your desktop. Import your gerber file into the Voltera software, press print, and the V-One will bring your board to life. Use the solder paste dispensing and reflow features to mount components onto your printed board, or mount components on a pre-fabricated board with ease. [1]

The current Ace of this machine is Jake Whipple.

Documentation

Current Inks and paste

The following conductive inks and pastes are stocked in the PCB Lab.

 

Conductive Ink: AqueousSnake

- Use to lay conductive traces on substrates


 

Solder Paste: FuriousAnt

- Use only on boards that utilize Voltera's ink traces, such as the ink above.


 

Solder Paste Sn63 Pb37: ArmoredArmadillo

- Use only premade boards, such as ones from Sunstone Circuits


Terminology

Voltera utilizes many pieces of equipment. It is important to be able to distinguish them, especially when trying to explain troubleshooting issues. Here are the items you should familiarize yourself with:

  • Substrates

  • Probe

  • Dispenser and Sheath

  • Conductive Ink Cartridge

  • Nozzle - 225 Micron

  • Burnishing Pads


(Pictures to add) Sacrificial layer

Training

Level 1

 
Training board - The Blinky 500

Successful completion of level 1 training will grant access to:

  • Using the Voltera to create single-sided boards with NO vias or holes.


  1. Ready the Ink
    1. Reference the Current Inks and Pastes for information on the what the PCB lab is currently stocked with.
    2. Grab the correct conductive ink from the fridge. It is labeled with a green sticker.
    3. Set the conductive ink on the table, allowing to begin to warm to room temperature.
  2. Software Setup
    1. Download the files for this project File:Pcb printer level 1.zip
    2. Power on the Voltera.
    3. Open the Voltera Windows application.
    4. Select "Print" and then "Simple."
    5. Add the proper conductive ink. This is the same conductive ink you acquired in step 1.3.
    6. Load the ink file from the project files. This is the Top Layer Gerber file.
    7. Click "Next."
  3. Cleaning the Sensors
    1. Take a cue tip and dip it into the isopropyl alcohol. The cue tip should be moist, but NOT soaked. Dab the cue tip on a paper towel to dry it slightly.
    2. Clean the calibration switches by rubbing them with the cue tip.
    3. Click "Next."
  4. Clamping the Substrate
    1. Acquire a 1.5" by 2" blank board. They are located in the one of the drawers.
    2. Slide the board underneath the clamps on the Voltera, push the clamps towards each other, and finger-tighten the thumb screws.
    3. Click "Next."
  5. Mounting the Probe
    1. Pull the probe from one of the drawers.
    2. Remove the cap and place it near the Voltera.
    3. Mount the probe onto the magnetic gantry. It should snap into place and the contacts should align.
    4. Click "Next."
  6. Positioning and Probing
    1. Click "Outline." This will show you where the Voltera thinks the board is. It will move the probe around the printer surface.
    2. Repeat step one until the outline is centered with the board. Click and drag the circuit in the Voltera application to move the outline.
    3. You MUST ensure the outline does not collide with the clamps AND does not exceed the dimensions of the board! Do NOT proceed until this is checked!
    4. Click "Next."
    5. Click "Probe" and wait for the Voltera to finish its measurements.
    6. Click "Next."
    7. Remove the probe, replace the cap, place the probe back in the drawer, and click "Next."
  7. Priming the Conductor
    1. Ensure 15 minutes have passed before beginning the next step. The dispenser should not be cold to the touch.
    2. EXPLAIN THIS AWFUL PROCESS. TALK ABOUT NOZZLES BREAKING
    3. Mount the dispenser.
    4. Click "Advanced." Start with the Z at 0.10 mm and the E at 0 um. Adjust the Voltera to these values.
    5. Click "Calibrate."
    6. The Voltera will lay down a test print. Pay close attention to the amount and consistency of the ink.
    7. Fig. 1 has slightly too much ink. Notice how a portion of the horizontal lines touch and some parts of the ink glob up.
    8. In this case, to make an adjustment, the ink height was set to a Z of 0.09 mm and the flow was set to an E of -10 um.
    9. You may need to do the same or make different adjustments. Whatever you do, do NOT run the nozzle into the board! The nozzle will break!
    10. If an adjustment was made, wipe the board clean with a paper towel and repeat step 9.
    11. Fig. 2 is an example of an ideal test print. Strive for this consistency. If your board looks right, proceed.
    12. Click "Next."
    13. Wipe the board clean a final time.
    14. Click "Next."
    15. The Voltera will print what is green. Ensure the portion you want to print is selected. Blue lines will not be printed. (Insert pic that i snipped)
    16. Click "Start."
       
      Step
    17. Let the voltera finsih. if a portion is not right, you can stop mid print, or wait till it is finsihed and redo that selection. Fig 3 is an example of a portion of ink that globbed up. The portion was wiped and can be reprinted.
    18. Remove the conductor, replace the cap, AND PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE.
    19. When you reach the "Flip Board," you are done. Quit the voltera app
    20. Power on.
    21. Select V1 INK
    22. The reflow will warm up. When its ready, press enter to open the tray
    23. Place the board securely on the rails.
    24. Press enter to close the tray. The preheat will take 2 minutres This reflow takes about 30 min.
       
      Wow

Level 2

CHANGE this: After completing the Hello World tutorial, you can proceed with making double-sided boards. Voltera has a tutorial called "Punk Console" which walks through creating your own double-sided board. It also shows how to use the V-One drill to make vias and component through-holes.

Usage

The Perfect Print

Two main factors affect the quality of your print.

Flow rate

Print height

Priming Conductors

Ideally, you should never have to prime the conductors. After a conductor has been primed correctly and used in the Voltera, it "closes" the dispenser. When done, you should be able to pull it off the mount and put the --- back in the fridge.

However, this is not always the case. If a student

Changing a Cartridge

  1. Remove the nozzle CAREFULLY
  2. Dissamble sheath by twisting green part clockwise
  3. Remove dispenser
  4. clean dispenser
  5. press downwards on the sheath to loose the cartridge
  6. remove the cartridge
  7. proceed to chuck the cartridge in the nearest garbage can
  8. wind the dispenser clockwise until it cant clockwise anymore
  9. acquire new cartridge
  10. remove top and bottom green caps SAVE THEM
  11. insert the cartidge with the label facing the back, in other words, the label should not be viewable through the window on the sheath
  12. insert the dispenser and lock it in by twisting the green part counter clockwise
  13. carefully REPLACE NOZZLE, use fingers first and then pliers!44







  1. ↑ Description taken from Elektor.
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