If you are wanting to make circuit boards using the UV exposure method you may want to recycle an old scanner into your UV light source.
“I opted for 3 tubes (around 8 Euro each), with ballasts and starters (6/7 Euro for each set). The switch, fuse holder and mains socket I scavenged from somewhere.
For the bottom plane I used a tin sheet. This acts as a sort of mirror/diffuser for UVs.
I used also some scrap aluminum bars from kitchen furnitures, their colour in the pictures tell it. Spacers and screws as required.
Now, the pictures show the electric diagram and the interior of the UV bed.
The circuit is based on three TL5 8W wood light tubes. Each tube is powered by its own ballast and starter . The number of tubes can be increased at will. The circuit is provided with a safety fuse and a power switch. A power socket (taken from a PC power supply) complements the circuit.”
Via: Make
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This would also work for doing photo screen printing image transfers! Neat!
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Damm, why didn’t I think of this. And I was going to build a UV exposure box from scratch, basically out of wooden/masinite. I would like to know how I can obtain information on how I can get an old scanner, because most scanners do not really provide a deep enough area to implement such parts inside, or have enough room. I want to know what models to look for on the net in case I don’t find any in my local junkyards, thrift shops, or the trash. Thanks alot.
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It actually looks like there should be some kind of a light-scattering material between the glass and the tubes for more uniform exposure.