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

This goes into the "don't do as I do" rule set, but, this is how I
have been drilling my PCB holes and have not had any troubles with
bits breaking.

I use a Delta drill press, It's a 16" model I think. It has a basic
jabobs chuck on it - not a precision one by any means. I run the
spindle at a "medium" speed - whatever it is set at. I know some
folks use a vice or even more fancy, and X-Y table & Vice to hold
the circuit board. When I drill, I put the circuit board on a piece
of flat wood (MDF or plywood) and slide it around with my left hand,
and drill the holes as normal. It's very fast, very efficient, and
I don't break drill bits doing it this way.

The only trick is that you have to hold the part down. If you don't
AND you feed too quickly, during breakout, the PCB slides up the
drill bit which can result in a broken drill. I use the carbide
drill bits which as you know are fragile and I seldom use a bit
smaller than .020" - most of the holes are around .024" or whatever
bit I have that is close to that.

If you are feed properly, the PCB will not have a tendancy to walk
up the bit and the bits stay in one piece. Many people that are new
to drill presses (and other machinery) prefer to hold their work
piece properly and I think they should too for safety reasons.

Just thought I would share my drilling process as it currently
stands. Once I get my PCB software upgraded, I will transition to
CNC drilling as I will then have the coordinates needed to do it.

Chris