Epson Artisan 835 - What are causing these microscopic line streaks?

rajhlinux

Newbie to Printing
Joined
Oct 29, 2024
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
Points
8
Printer Model
Epson Artisan 835, 1400, P800
Hello,

I need to print high precision transparency negatives for making PCBs.
I'm using the best settings and nozzle print check have no clogs and did alignment to the best abilities, however I can not figure out what is causing these micro spikes in the lines.

I first tested on HP advanced photo glossy photo paper using best settings with slow speed, below are the results (I used an Epson Artisan 835 printer):

PCB_Capture.PNG


PCB_Capture_2.PNG



Here, I circled it with red to show the issue of the micro spikes:

PCB_Capture_3.jpg


Hope some Epson printer nerd here can chime in on whats going on here.
How to resolve this issue?
Maybe the Epson printer I am using is not a higher quality machine?

Anyone thinks maybe an Epson 1400 or 3880 or maybe the newer Sure Color P600 / P800 might resolve these micro spike printing issues?

Thanks for any advice.

Edit: I've included original PCB PDF vector image file.
 

Attachments

  • FPGA_danstrother_spartan6test_20101224_layout_page_3.pdf
    60.5 KB · Views: 13
Last edited:

Ink stained Fingers

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
6,040
Reaction score
7,199
Points
363
Location
Germany
Printer Model
L805, WF2010, ET8550
I'm missing a scale to your images above - what is the intended line width and distance of the tracks ? What is the overall size of the pc-board if I would try to reprint it ?

Does the effect occur only on horizontal lines or in any angle ?

Sicne when do you see this problem ?
 

Ink stained Fingers

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
6,040
Reaction score
7,199
Points
363
Location
Germany
Printer Model
L805, WF2010, ET8550
I tried to print your PCB-Capture file - but these spikes are in this ***. png file already; please provide a 'clean' drawing so that I can compare. I printed to fit the pcb layout onto 4" x 6" photo paper, I think that's coming close to the actual size
 
Last edited:

Ink stained Fingers

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
6,040
Reaction score
7,199
Points
363
Location
Germany
Printer Model
L805, WF2010, ET8550
The spikes are in the datafile, here is a magnified crop , and that's what the printer is printing - correctly



Crop.png
 

rajhlinux

Newbie to Printing
Joined
Oct 29, 2024
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
Points
8
Printer Model
Epson Artisan 835, 1400, P800
I tried to print your PCB-Capture file - but these spikes are in this ***. png file already; please provide a 'clean' drawing so that I can compare. I printed to fit the pcb layout onto 4" x 6" photo paper, I think that's coming close to the actual size

Hello Ink Stained Fingers, what an interesting username.

Thanks for your reply.

I should've included these important information to remove any uncertainty.
Below I've stated the information about the project file which I've uploaded and attached the original PCB PDF file to this post. The PCB file is all vector and does not contain any artifacts.

I got the PCB files from this website (The PCB PDF file is attached to this post and can be downloaded):
https://danstrother.com/2011/01/16/spartan-6-bga-test-board/

The PCB traces are 0.006″ (0.15mm or about 154 microns).

I've also included the printer's nozzle print check test page and alignment as well.
(Please note I did a test alignment twice and printed both sides of the paper, it is why there is a shadow overlay):

img003_low_res.jpg
 

Attachments

  • FPGA_danstrother_spartan6test_20101224_layout_page_3.pdf
    60.5 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:

rajhlinux

Newbie to Printing
Joined
Oct 29, 2024
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
Points
8
Printer Model
Epson Artisan 835, 1400, P800
I also had a go of it on my Canon i9950 and I got no signs of any spikes.. Clean as whistle..

Hello The Hat,

Thanks for your reply.

Please try it again, here is the original PCB PDF file which I've attached to this post, scan it after printing since it would be very difficult to view by the eye without microscope. Also note that printing on regular paper will not be suffice and works on premium photo glossy paper with highest settings with slowest speeds with max resolution because the ink will absorb and expand in regular paper substrates.

I have a canon printer but I do not want to use Canon because it uses thermal printheads which doesn't work well with a wide range of ink compositions and I rather use Epson's piezoelectric print heads which are virtually immune to any type of ink substance.
 

Attachments

  • FPGA_danstrother_spartan6test_20101224_layout_page_3.pdf
    60.5 KB · Views: 22
Last edited:

Ink stained Fingers

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
6,040
Reaction score
7,199
Points
363
Location
Germany
Printer Model
L805, WF2010, ET8550
What is the actual size of the pcb layout ? Which driver settings are you using - color or B/W - and the other parameters like contrast etc ?
 

rajhlinux

Newbie to Printing
Joined
Oct 29, 2024
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
Points
8
Printer Model
Epson Artisan 835, 1400, P800
What is the actual size of the pcb layout ? Which driver settings are you using - color or B/W - and the other parameters like contrast etc ?

Thanks for your reply.

I made a post reply to you earlier but it seems like it needs moderator approval but for some reason my post reply to the user "The Hat" was accepted.

Anyhow I hope this post reply to you is accepted, here are the details on the Epson Artisan 835 settings I am using:

PCB_Capture_3.PNG


The paper I used is "HP Advanced Glossy Photo Paper"

I've also updated my original post which includes the original PCB vector file in PDF format. You can test print on that and I've confirmed the digital file has no artifacts.
 

rajhlinux

Newbie to Printing
Joined
Oct 29, 2024
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
Points
8
Printer Model
Epson Artisan 835, 1400, P800
What is the actual size of the pcb layout ?

Here are the size of the PCB details:

The PCB traces are 0.006″ (0.15mm or about 154 microns).

PCB_Capture_4.jpg


On the tape measure, the top unit markings, represents inches of the imperial unit of measure system.
On the bottom unit markings, represents millimeters of the metric unit of measure system.
 
Last edited:
Top