--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew" <andrewm1973@...> wrote:
>
> > >I wrote:
> > >If you just used a normal isolation milling
> > >CAM file (like you would with a mechanical
> > >router) then you might end up with an
> > >island of copper in the middle of the board
> > >with no ground connection.
> > >
> > >The EDN wont spark on that any more :(
>
> > Alan wrote:
> >
> > Makes sense and easy enough and probably
> > not even that bad with an intelligent skip
> > of uncut areas.. I'd still rather see it
> > draw the traces with electricity, shouldn't
> > be too hard to figure out some type of
> > useable sort and just more fun to watch.
>
>
> It would be an easy enough algorithm to to
> get all the vectors from the G-Code and
> z-sort them to avoid islands. But we are
> going to get back into the writing PC
> software argument again if we do :D
>
> I think the 24/32 wire EDM printer might
> win in a race with a vector one at the end
> of the day anyways.
>
Hi Alan and Andrew,
When I started playing with the idea of EDM ing PCBs a couple of years
ago, my thought was to modify a printer and "print" the PCB using most
of the PCL code built into the printer so that I could go directly
from a jpeg or scan of magazine artwork to copper. Like many "good"
ideas there were bumps on the road to realization!!
Using vector graphics would be very much faster, especially if
combined with multiple size selectable electrodes, but would lose the
ability to scan artwork and then "print" it to the PCB. Also a vector
approach requires attention to the ground return path.
Andrew I believe Stefan did some experiments with burning the copper
away as opposed to the spark erosion of EDM. I'm not sure as to his
results, but perhaps he could help with your TIG experiments.
I've pretty much suspended work on my PCB EDM project until I can
figure out a reliable ( and cheap! ) way to get a pulse repetition
rate of closer to 1 mHz. Since Volkan's inkjet announcement I'm
pretty sure EDM ing PCBs is a thing of the past in any event.
Curt Richards