This might be a wierd idea, just say so if it is-
How about a pointed bit used in your PCB milling machine, with the
laquer coating and a bath in the etchant after? That guarantees a
wider swath but with less cutting.
I'm thinking of a guy who sells pictures etched into stone. His
bits are just carbide shafts ground to a slightly faceted point.
The idea being that this gives you a wider path through the copper,
and you can resharpen the bits. It does require the CNC milling
machine and etching afterwards, though, so perhaps complexity would
outweigh any cost savings.
I've gotta try your scratch and etch idea.
Steve Greenfield
--- crankorgan <
john@...> wrote:
> Hi Denny,
> The acid will also stay strong because there
> is less copper etched when doing isolation. I use the
> Think and Tinker bits. They only last a little while
> longer if you hit just the copper. I did all kinds
> of tests trying to reduce my costs so I could see
> circuit boards to the public. Hopefully someone
> gives the Scratch and Etch a real test!
>
> John
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., milwiron@t... wrote:
> >
> > I'm finding John's idea pretty intriguing.
> > Just to take the brainstorming another step:
> > One big problem with PCB routers is tool life and their cost.
> > But using a CNC router with a cutter to just cut through the
> surface of the
> > resist and a thou or two in to the copper would prolong the
> life of
> a
> > carbide tool immensely... and produce a board that should etch
> quickly and
> > cleanly.
> > Yes it would be better do away with etching all together but a
> marriage of
> > the two technologies for some applications could be useful.
> > Denny
> >
> >
> > At 02:35 PM 04/05/2002 -0000, you wrote:
> > >Hi,
> > > Nobody liked my light on a plotter idea. I was told the
> > >light source would have to move too slow. The board would take
> > >way to long. Ok, I use Mechanical Etching bits myself. But
> what
> > >if you coated the whole board with resist. Then you put a
> sharp
> > >point in the plotter. Have the plotter do isolation paths.
> Then
> > >the board goes to the acid.
> > >
> > > John
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