[sdiy] Cutting PCBs w/ dremel tool

[James Patchell]

Well, believe it or not, I used to do this a Lonnngggg time ago (would you 
believe 1968!).  Personally, it is a lot easier to etch PC boards for FeCl 
or AmmoniumPerSulfate than to cut the board out...and I would not recommend 
doing either unless you happen to have a lot more time on your hands than 
money.  With all of the companies that specialize in doing short runs of PC 
boards (Advanced Circuits is my fav), to me the cost in time is no longer 
justified.  Plus, dealing with the chemicals for etching is a pain in the 
you know what...

Now, back to machining the boards...I used to use a small pointed rotary 
file (burr) to cut the copper foil.  There are companies that sell an NC 
table for doing this from your computer, but it is not cheap.  You will 
also need an X-Y table and something to hold the cutting tool steady.  I 
used to use my Dads drill press (in 1968, I was in my first year of high 
school...or was it my second...?....well now the subject has changed to my 
senility :-)....it would go up to 5000+rpm....I still have the thing in my 
garage, but it needs new bearings and a new quill...


At 07:37 PM 1/24/2005 -0800, s wrote:
>Hello Guys-
>
>Have any of you tried to cut PCBs with the rotary
>cutting bits for dremel tools at all? Did it work
>well?
>
>Or, do the cutting wheels work better? I've seen the
>fiberglass based wheels for cutting and they seem like
>they'd work too.
>
>Which  would you recommend? I appreciate your time and
>answers... the amount of knowlege and experience on
>this list is amazing. I so glad a resource such as
>this iis available.
>
>regards,
>s
>
>
>
>
>
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         -Jim
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