[sdiy] Non-chemical PCB production???

[Tom Arnold]

On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 08:54:27PM +0100, Merv Thomas wrote:
> Here's a DIY (not synth specific) question for you concerning the
> non-chemical production of small PCBs. As far as I can tell, the only
> non-chemical method of producing PCBs is to mill contours around traces and
> lands - I'm sure you've all seen the LKPF, or is it LPKF? - I can never
> remember. It produces nice looking little boards in a reasonable time, but
> it costs a small fortune. So I got to thinking . . . hmmm, could I get
> something close to this using alternative means.

There was a link on Slashdot to a guy who made a DIY PCBoard mill.
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/03/30/2355211&mode=thread&tid=137

Very interesting reading.

> Over last weekend, a swoop on a local car boot sale resulted in me now being
> the proud owner of an HP7475A pen plotter. You know this puppy is sitting
> there and I'm wondering could this thing be converted into a weapon of board
> construction?

A Pen plotter wont be strong enough.  I've had my HP plotter get stuck just
hitting a bad spot on the paper.
Might have better luck with an XY plotter, those are about a dime a dozen
surplus, but even then I dont think the motors just are beefy enough to move 
around a milling head.  Vinyl cutters are quite a bit stronger then your
average pen plotter, but then you are up into real money.

I would cruise the net looking for DIY mills.  Its relatively easy to make an
X-Y bed and then use a stationary cutter with a 2 position Z axis and you will
find tons of people who have done DIY CNC stuff that could be easily 
adapted.

-- 
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 - Tom Arnold -       When I was small, I was in love,                  - 
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