--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Mark Lerman <mlerman@...> wrote:
>
> Is a dremel adequate for drilling pcbs using carbide drills? I know
> it isn't good enough for pcb routing, but just for drilling?? If not,
> what is a good, small, reasonably priced alternative?
A Dremel will work fine for drilling PCB's, I know it is not the best but if you already have one I would not go out and buy something else.
I use mine in a Dremel drill press, most the play is in the drill press not the tool itself. I have used both the older design Dremel drill press and the newer one. I like the newer one better but it still could be improved on. One of these days I will get around to getting a CNC drill finished, then thinking of useing a Trim Router.
I have used Dremels for drilling FR4 with Carbide bits with very little breakage problem. I could not even begin to count the number of holes that I have drilled in FR4 boards over the years with very little breakage, most of which had nothing to do with the Type of drill was more to do with not holding down the board good or getting in too big of a hurry and trying to move the board before I'd get the bit all the way back out of the board.
HSS bit will work OK but will dull fast in FR4, but they are more forgiving to breaking. If you are drilling by hand HSS bits would be better than carbide bits. Really depends on how many holes you intend to drill.
Ben