[Lab] Chemistry help: moding Inkjet Printers

Mon May 27 16:40:54 EDT 2013

Jason,

Great ideas there. Thank you so much for the suggestions. I'm drawn to
using standard paper and ink becasue the printers are calibrated to
work with that and are most likely to print accurately. This is
particularly true if I'm looking at something as large as a plotter
for big stencils.

The issue is safety + clean dissolving of the printed area.

I know there are many chemicals that could do this done. Your
suggestion of phosphorus + heat is a good idea, I'll need to explore
this, but i'm concerned that with autoignition of paper, the burn will
continue past the printed area and you won't end up with a clean
stencil. Something to try!

Photosensitive silkscreening is actually not an application I've
tried, since I've never had a darkroom. You've got an interesting idea
there, but I'd like to focus on the cut stencil idea. I did fail to
explain that this is currently my main method for creating stencils -
I'm skilled at hand cutting large, detailed stencils with an sharp
blade over a lit surface. But, as you can imagine, this takes up huge
time resources for complicated designs.

What I would love to do is create a safe DIY kit for others to follow.
Many chemicals that I know will do the trick are either dangerous (ie,
calcium carbide in the ink then misting the paper with water would
work but will release acetylne) or probably won't work right (NMMO).
That's why I'm hoping someone on here with a chemistry background can
really help me identify a chemical that would work nicely for this
application.

Any more ideas out there?

     Stephane Arthur Kiss, M.A.Sc
     Producer: Art, Music, Design
     ANTI STUDIOS.com
     OFFICE 613-997-3015
     STUDIO 613-761-7185

On 5/27/13, Jason Cobill <jason.cobill at gmail.com> wrote:
> Don't let people get you down, I think you have something there.
>
> Here's an idea: Instead of perfecting the ink, instead modify the paper.
> Dead trees are tough stuff to dissolve, and aren't even that great as
> stencils. It soaks up paint and falls apart after a few uses. Why not use
> metal foil or a plastic (or sugar) sheet or something, and then print
> readily available water (or some kind of solvent) onto it? That way you end
> up with a way more robust stencilling template, and you can work with
> chemicals that aren't scary organic dissolvers.
>
> Another option: Print out onto regular paper, but cut the stencil in a
> two-stage process. Maybe you print phosphors onto the paper, and then warm
> it in a toaster oven to burn through the stencil. Or you print something
> onto plastic and freeze + shatter the stencil. (This doesn't sound really
> safe...)
>
> In my imagination, I can't see past the silkscreening process - maybe you
> run silkscreen-emulsion coated fabric through your printer and print
> something on it that blocks light (sunscreen!) - then expose it to sun/UV.
> The printed area doesn't set, and washes off leaving a fabric stencil.
>
>
> On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 3:43 PM, Stephane Beauchamp-Kiss <
> stephane.beauchampkiss at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Good afternoon all,
>>
>> I'm wondering if there's any members out there with a background in
>> chemistry who would be interested in exploring an idea/project with
>> me:
>>
>> I have used laser cutting in the past to create stencils for various
>> art projects. This is definitely a popular application of this
>> technology (silkscreening/art/signs). However, I have found several
>> disadvantages: laser cutters aren't readily available, they are
>> expensive to own privately (especially in larger sizes), the cost of
>> services such as ponoko.com is still high, designs need to be vector
>> graphics, and there are limitations to the level of detail of the
>> design.
>>
>> My idea: using standard inkjet printers/plotters to create stencils.
>> The idea would be to add a chemical to the ink in an inkjet cartridge,
>> such that it reacts with cellulose in the paper and dissolves it into
>> a relatively safe/environmentally friendly gas. NMMO is a chemical
>> that appear promising; it is used in industry for dissolving cellulose
>> and has a history of use as an additive to inkjet ink to increase the
>> intensity of colors on paper; in larger concentrations it may dissolve
>> the paper (though it may turn it into a liquid goop). Another
>> alternative is an paper pre-treatment that would react with another
>> chemical added to the inket cartridge. I recognize the dangers and
>> obstacles associated with this project. I have a safe, controlled area
>> in my home in Westboro to work on this project.
>>
>> What I'm looking for is a partner in crime with some chemistry
>> background who would be interested in meeting and exploring this idea
>> with me. The long term goal is to develop/market a home DIY stenciling
>> kit for inkjet printers.
>>
>> I welcome any comments on this projects, even critisism. To be honest,
>> I have received a fair bit already and I am aware that there may
>> simply be too many obstacles to make this one fly. Doesn't mean I
>> won't try ;)
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>>     Stephane Arthur Kiss, M.A.Sc
>>     Producer: Art, Music, Design
>>     ANTI STUDIOS.com
>>     OFFICE 613-997-3015
>>     STUDIO 613-761-7185
>>
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>