Yup, FR4. I think the normal stuff is around .6mm give or take. (Once I used
this .35mm board. Man, cuts like butter). I've only used the shear with
single sided copper board, so I'm not sure how it'll perform with the double
sided stuff. It shouldn't really be a problem. The rake is pretty low, so I
wouldn't try to cut anything thicker than 20GA.
You have to take care not to nick the blade, or you'll get the jagged edge
where the nicks are. My friend has taken the blades to a machine shop once
to have them ground flat. He's had it about a year and only did that
recently. I only cut boards on it every now and then, but he uses it for
other things, so I've experienced a sharp, and a nicked up blade. It's not
hard to care for, if you're not in a big hurry. When I get one of my own,
I'll probably make an HDPE cover for it so that dropped stock doesn't bounce
off the exposed lower blade.
This is the nibbler I picked up.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97636It has a slightly wider kerf than this other one,
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65895at the same price, but looked more accurate for straight lines.
I had used both types in the past, and found that for straight lines, and
nice corners, the first type, with a flat area for leveling the work, is
best. The second type is much better for curves and circles. In fact, the
first of is really hard to make nice circles with, without tons of practice,
and even then, you can't put the nibbled bit back on. lol
Both would be nice to have for general touch up work too, like making boards
fit around standoffs and connectors and such.
On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 6:02 PM, Steve <steve65@...> wrote:
>
>
> Thanks Mike.
>
> Micro-Mark occasionally has theirs on sale for about the regular cost
> of the Harbor Freight unit. So the HF shear on sale would be an even
> better deal. There is a Harbor Freight nearby, I'll see if they stock
> it. I'd like to see it before buying if I can.
>
> Do you cut 1/16" FR4 with it?
>
> What's the part number of the nibbler?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Steve K8JQ
>
>
> Mike Oyama wrote:
> > I use this one at a buddies house.
> >
> > http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90757
> >
> > It's generic, but it works great. He got his on sale for $99. I'm
> checking
> > the specials every week till I see it for that price again. I've thought
> > about going to eBay for a used one, but I'm more concerned about a sharp,
> > nick free shear blade than anything else. They all look like they're
> built
> > about the same as far as the rigidity is concerned since it's going to be
> > used for PCBs most of the time, and not thicker metal stock.
> >
> > When cutting 1oz single sided pcbs, it leaves a nice clean sharp edge. In
> > fact, it's almost too sharp, and I always take a small piece of 1000P or
> > 1500 wet-dry sandpaper to the edge to soften it up a bit and avoid those
> > papercut type slices. Not jagged or saw blade, it's a sharp square edge,
> > like on a really nice pair of steel hand shears.
> >
> > I bought the little hand nibbler they sell. It was <$10 and works great
> for
> > cutting intricate shapes for tiny board mounting solutions, but a real
> PITA
> > for long straight cuts.
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Steve <steve65@...<steve65%40suddenlink.net>>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Anyone using the Micro-Mark 83213 MINI METAL SHEAR / BRAKE to cut 1/16"
> >> FR4? The shear is at
> >> http://www.micromark.com/MINI-METAL-SHEAR-and-BRAKE,8395.html
> >>
> >> What has been your experience with it? Easy to use? Clean cuts? Problems
> >> or deficiencies?
> >>
> >> A search of the group archives turned up two references to this tool,
> >> but no comments regarding its usefulness for cutting PCB material.
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >> Steve K8JQ
> >>
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>
>
>
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