I don't want to dampen your spirits, but FR4 is surprisingly
abrasive. Even with a 3-foot, heavy-duty sheetmetal shear (PEXTO),
it can dull the blade for other purposes. I worked in a shop once
that kept two such shears for that reason, one for FR4 and the other
for everything else. It is quick and does do a nice job, though.
John
--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "bryanandaimee"
<bryanandaimee@...> wrote:
>
> I just found a great way to cut PCB's. The local media arts teacher
> had an old manual paper cutter. It is a big beast but it works
great.
> It is about 2 1/2 to 3 foot square and has a big long lever that
> shears against the blade on the side of the cutter. It cuts FR4
> without a problem. I have made 10 inch cuts along the length of an
8 x
> 10 inch copper clad board with it. It just shears right off. It also
> makes a nice sound while cutting that gets my students worried. They
> allways ask if I'm cutting my arm off. The electronics guys at USU
> have an old sheet metal shear that works even better. It is foot
> powered and just chops the stuff apart like nothing.
>
> Bryan Jackson
>