Steve,
In most software you can set the width of the milled
area or Isolation. When using a plotter, there will be less
drag if the point is fine.
Hey Steve! Thanks for this conference! I am having fun!
John
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Steve Greenfield <alienrelics@y...> wrote:
> 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@k...> 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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