Thanks, Stefan,
Yes, there are two worries that I mainly have about using a 3D router:
burring and minimum trace width/clearance.
I'm pretty sure surface mount would be "out"...but maybe not.
On the other hand, once it's setup and debugged, it's repeatable, fast, and the automated hole drilling is not to be sneezed at; I find the hole drilling part by far the biggest hassle and would love to have it done automatically....I suppose, if nothing else, I could just have the 3D router just do the drilling, that would be a huge time and hassle saver....
However, if the hole diameters were standardized to one size (in some circuits this is doable, even if it isn't optimal), one bit could do it all: routing and drilling...all in one multi-stepped set of passes. That would be pretty cool. It would have to be a carbide or even diamond bit, at a very high speed, maybe even with water cooling, but I'm sure it's achievable.
And, now that I think about it more, actually larger holes would, of course, be achievable: just program it in to to mill the hole out larger. It might be useful to make the table 4D, with rotary capability as the 4th dimension.
I was hoping someone on this list had already mastered the craft of routing boards instead of etching them. It might have to be me...
Best, Charlie
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...> wrote:
>
> You would just shift to another set of problems.
> Instead of paper and stuff you will think about milling bits, burr,
> milling depth, etc....
>
> ST
>
> On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 6:40 AM, gandolfreefer
> <synchronousmosfet@...> wrote:
> > I really appreciate all the answers; very helpful, and I'm still rereading them all and ruminating on it all....
> >
> > ....part of figuring out what method I'm going to commit to is I'm now in the philipines, doing medical mission work and R & D, here for quite a while, and I have to consider local supplies, and it turns out getting all my PCB fab stuff sent to me is not as simple as I thought it would be.....
> >
> > So, I'm now considering building a 3D router table/stepper-controlled, and just route the PCB's....which would also include being able to drill the holes automatically...
> >
> > The nice thing about this, is that even though it's expensive to setup, once it's done, no worries about type of paper, type of printer, etchant, etc., etc....
> >
> > I just wouldn't be able to do very fine stuff, I presume...but I wasn't planning on making boards for surface mount IC's anyway...
> >
> > Suggestions?
> >
> > Best, Charlie
> >
> >
>