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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: PCB EDM MILL Initial Tests

From: Alan King <alan@...>
Date: 2006-05-03

Andrew wrote:

>
>>AlanK wrote:
>> 24 things to fail at every step, better
>>start now so it can work by 2012.. :)
>>
>>
>
>Them there fandangled ink jet printers have
>between 48 and 120 nozzels per colour and
>they don't break down more than 3 times a
>day :D
>
>
>

Which inkjet also has 24+ independent complex mechanical systems that
have to be maintained? It's a relative PITA to keep 2 or 3 of something
like that working well. Heck took them 15 or 20 years to get inkjets
even close to right, and even now much of the rightness is simply waste
half the ink cleaning the nozzles.. They're reliable because they're
simple and fluid instead of mechanical all around..

Make you a deal, get just 6 working well for a week then you can tell
me how it is so much better than an inkjet.. :) Again, I'll expect to
hear back about it by at least 2012..

Even the 2 or 3 feeds I mentioned is problematic, but the advantage
would outweigh the extra complexity and problems of 2 or 3.

But the DISC does have the strong advantage of much more edge area for
a far lower erosion distance. It might last long enough with a decent
multiple to not need feeding over the making of a board. A stack of
copper washers on a tube, insulated and with their own supply, just scan
back and forth, when the washers have scanned to the next washer's area
just move the whole assembly. Spinning at least some to constantly
expose fresh edge and get power to each washer through the tube. I can
see something like that working far more easily than getting 24 seperate
wire feeds to cooperate for any real period of time..

Alan