little OT : drilling pcb's

[Fraser, Colin J]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dr. Jörg Schmitz [mailto:JSchmitz at patho.bonn.com]
> Sent: 03 December 1999 13:39
> To: 'synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl'
> Subject: little OT : drilling pcb's
> 
> 
> I etched 12 PCB's the last two days, and now I'm going to drill them.
> The problem is : the drill grows blunt after 20 - 30 holes, 
> and I have to
> take
> a new one. I use expensive 1 mm HSS - drills, which should work, in my
> opinion.
> 
> Anyone any idea, who to do this work economical ? (I.e. not 
> 12 drills for 1
> PCB
> but 1 drill for 12 PCB'S)

Your drills will last longer if you use sheet resin bonded paper instead of
fibreglass pcbs, but then your boards won't last so long...

Tungsten carbide drills last longer but cost more, and they are not as stong
laterallly, so really need to be used in a drill press.
I've never actually worked out whether they are more cost effective.

Maplin UK sell t.c. bits for 3.29 ukp a shot (ouch!)


Colin f