Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

previous by date index next by date
previous in topic topic list next in topic

Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Your Wire EDM

From: roger lucas <ralucas4277@...>
Date: 2005-09-29

Andrew,


Yes, I've just been quoted £2-08/litre by the UK
distributor, MIN QTY 55 litres, Gulp, but that is
delivered!!


I was using a document scanner on my desk when your
post arrived, and it set me wondering whether this
might be a possible interface to the EDM PCB mill as
you described. Must investigate further.

Roger


--- Andrew Mawson <andrew@...> wrote:


---------------------------------
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, roger lucas
<ralucas4277@y...>
wrote:

>>SNIP<<

> Andrew,
>
> The pcb must be edm'ed in a raster fashion, ie
> consecutive passes with the electrode so that the
> electrode always approaches fresh copper, analagous
to
> the old dot matrix printers.
>
> However, I have no knowledge of an off the shelf
> package to convert pcb layout to raster scan format.
> At the moment I am converting to bitmap and cobbling
> from there. The resulting file needs to be edited
for
> spark on/off to pass over copper that has to remain.
> Maybe someone can help here, by suggesting a better
> process!
>
> For further enlightenment see the following messages
> on the Homebrew_PCB forum,
>
> 9593, 9594, 9602, 9604, 9614, 9805, 10006, 10024,
> 10096,
>
> I am interested in the dielectric fluid you mention,
> and will try to obtain some for trials.
>
> Roger
>
>

Roger,

If you were to make your scanning system move both the
EDM mechanism
and an opto head looking at a conventional translucent
PCB image, the
digital signal from the opto sensor could turn off/on
the spark
source and there would be no need for custom software
! The original
Muirhead wet fax machines used a similar set up with a
light sensor
looking at the source document, it's output sent down
'phone lines to
a receiver where 'almost'point contact between a fixed
horizontal
blade, and a rotating helical blade (like a cylinder
lawn mower)
passed electricity though a paper soaked in an iodine
compound to
make the mark.

I'm afraid the dielectric was rather expensive -
particularly as I
needed 19 gallons (!!!) In fact I seem to remember
paying almost as
much for the fluid as I did for the (none working at
the time) EDM
machine <G>




Be sure to visit the group home and check for new
Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs

If Files or Photos are running short of space, post
them here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/



SPONSORED LINKS

Electrical engineering degree online
Electrical engineering degree
Printed circuit board

Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering course
Electrical engineering graduate school


---------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS


Visit your group "Homebrew_PCBs" on the web.

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Homebrew_PCBs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
Terms of Service.


---------------------------------






___________________________________________________________
To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com