Jerry, Here are two quick, efficient and inexpensive options. 1. Why are you using 7 mil Silver film for photoplot checking? This is a very expensive process for insuring your CAM/CAD and/or D-codes where inputed correctly. To dramatically cut cost I used 5-7mil Red Diazo film for photoplot checking. Plus it is easier to view the circuitry through the red diazo when overlaying multiple layers. Its also useful when your Incoming inspection has shorts, opens or any related defect to troubleshoot via the red diazo. Typically you are looking at $10-$15 less per sheet when going to a red diazo versus Silver. Not sure of their pricing matrix today, but in the past a local photoplot house, Compuroute, has been very cost competitive and quick turn around times. 2. There are so many photoplotters out there, flatbeds, drums, Cybolic Sceinces, Gerber, Kodak, etc. But if you want a low cost, low maintenance and versatile photoplotter try using Lavenirs RPG series plotters. I've purchased and used the RPG-1622/si in the past. The foot print is praticallly a table top version, approx. 40x25x15 and is self contained. Try them at: 510-680-7400 Pleasant Hill, CA Hope this helps, John Gulley - QA Inet Inc. 1255 W. 15th St. Plano, TX 75075-7270 p.s. Ron Leraas, David Mckinney, Gene Hundley and all the other boys you know say helloooo Jerry. ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: DES: inexpensive plotter Author: [log in to unmask] (Jerry Cupples) at Internet Date: 3/6/97 2:47 PM greetings, all: Our Company has a practice of ordering sets of 7 mil silver Mylar film for each new design, to check the actual layer images and to archive. We are designers and builders of circuit assemblies, and buy all boards externally from the same old large domestic board suppliers...you know who you are ;-) Of course, said film is not used for fabrication these days, but this all dates back to the days when it _was_ forwarded to the fab shop. It basically gets shoved into a drawer to collect the fingerprints of those of us flux stained wretches have to stuff 'em the next decade or so. We have the film plotted by a local service at a moderate cost, but it usually takes 24 hrs to get it. Sometimes, we find some minor issue which requires correcting the CAD (Allegro) files, re-sending the Gerber to the plotting service, and waiting for the checkfilm to "sign off" the design. The laser photoplots also have an annoying habit of getting some bizarre D-code in the aperture list, and needing to be re-shot. My interest is in getting a moderately priced plotter capable of running up to say "B" sized checkfilm with enough resolution for close inspection, but not necessarily with the resolution and accuracy required for working film. If such a piece of equipment could be justified, we would like to be able to make checkplots "inhouse". I'd guess we order about 40-60 sets of film a year. The film would only need to be good enough to verify the clearances and dimensions, and accurate layer-layer for checking our stackups. If anyone has a suggestion as to the software and hardware one could use for this purpose, please post here or email. I really have no idea what has happened to the prices of plotters in the last 10 years... Thanks, Jerry Cupples Interphase Corporation Dallas, TX USA http://www.iphase.com *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * ***************************************************************************