Glad to see others have tried and some like it...
I have decided to try the cheap route first.. I am going to pick the kit up on Saturday. Well cheap compared to $9000, as I have use for CNC router even if it doesn't pan out for traces. It gives me an easy way to get up to speed on the process and software. I'll be going Linux for the software, as I have some old laptops and desktops that can be nicely loaded with Ubuntu and give great performance. My old windoze machines just take too long to reboot once they have hung :-(
I'll post some pictures of the results... Probably in a week or two.
If anyone has experience with Linux/EMC and driving it from Eagle I'd like to know there is someone there to ask dumb questions....
Mat
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Mark Lerman <mlerman@...> wrote:
>
> I've been milling boards for over a year. It works very well, though
> the learning curve is a little steeper than you might think. I use an
> AccurateCNC 360, which is good enough for 10 mil traces and can be
> used for even finer traces with some care. Double sided is easy,
> drilling is a snap, and being able to mill the edges of the board
> gives a very clean cut. I'm not sure whether a simple homemade mill
> would work as well, but over a smaller area it should work. The 360
> is about 9K (I think), very pricey for the hobbiest, but it can also
> be used for milling plastic and even non ferrous metals. Support for
> this machine is unbelievably great!! The company goes way out of it's
> way to provide support and repairs, even out of warrantee, and they
> reply to email extremely promptly. I blew the spindle driver while
> cutting plastic, and they replaced the driver with a newer one that
> won't blow at no charge. While they had the machine, they completely
> checked the calibration and added some hardware to make cutting
> plastic and softer materials much easier. Again at no charge.
>
> The usual disclaimer - I have no financial interest whatsoever in
> their company, just a very satisfied customer.
>
> Mark
>
>
> At 08:49 PM 3/17/2010, you wrote:
> >Well Mat - I was hoping someone would respond and get a discussion
> >going on CNC milling of PCB. I have been reading about it and it
> >sure sounds slick - the videos look good.
> >
> >Double sided should be a snap. Drill holes are automated.
> >
> >It all "sounds" good, but like you I'd like to know more.
> >
> >Ken H.
> >
> >--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mat_henshall" <mat@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I am considering getting a small DIY 3 axis CNC router, something
> > like this:
> > >
> > > http://zentoolworks.com/
> > >
> > > To, amongst other things, make PCB's with. Clearly a useful tool
> > for drilling holes, but I have seen youtube videos (eg
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFQotB1aQBQ) of people using this
> > type of device for milling the pcb itself.
> > >
> > > I currently use UV Sensitive PCB method for making prototype
> > boards which is OK, but is time consuming, can be error prone and messy.
> > >
> > > Anybody got any thoughts on milling PCB's? Good, bad the ugly?
> > >
> > > One though that occurred to me is that after making it, spraying
> > some form of solder resist to the board and then using some sort of
> > polishing bit to remove the resist where needed might be a nice touch?
> > >
> > > Mat
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>