PCB milling machines??

[KA4HJH]

>    I have never actually used or seen one of these machines in person.  While
>it seems atractive, I have felt that the disadvantages outweigh what you have
>to pay for it.  First off, the price.  While I cannot remember how much one
>cost's, even if it was real low, like say $500 (us), it would still seem to be
>only good for prototypes.  It will not give you plated through holes.  As long
>as all your boards are single sided, this is no problem.  You would still have
>to solder plate the boards.  You can either electro plate lead-tin and then
>reflow, or use wave soldering, both rather involved.  You will also not have
>solder mask unless you invest in the equipment and matarial to do this.  You
>will also not have a legend.  It always seemed to me that for what you would
>get, the boards would be pretty expensive.  But, this is only my humble
>opinion.

Still, there's nothing like cranking out a board right when you need it.
Make a mistake? Change it and do it again. Double-sided is no problem, and
the holes are drilled. It seems to me that if you can afford the machine in
the first place (last price I saw was in the $8-10k range) you can get the
plating and tinning stuff. Also seems to me that unless you have a solid
business reason for it this thing is a rich man's toy. *sigh*

BOY would I like to have one of those 100W laser cutters that acts like a
plotter.


Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The 'Still waiting for Roland to send me one of everythng--their CAM toys,
not their keyboards' Mac Doctor"

The keyboards would be nice, too.

I like Gerber about as much as I like Microsoft. :p