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Subject: Re: Produce Quick & Cheap PCBs with a CNC paper cutter

From: "AlienRelics" <alienrelics@...>
Date: 2012-06-15

I'm using a very old used Graphtec I bought at a thrift store.

I've been looking for info on the CriCuts to see if any models can be printed to from any given program, or if they must be driven from their software.

Some of the cheaper models have complaints about poor curve following and bad quality at small cut sizes. I've never owned a Roland but they seem to have a good reputation.

As for my Graphtec, I once accidentally sent a Word doc to print - it dutifully began cutting out each and every letter at 12 point size. It would have been fun to weed, but it was looking good when I stopped it.

There are quite a few sign forums where you can ask about quality of various vinyl cutters. If you go to the Links in Signmaker, I've put up links to many of them.
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/signmaker/

Steve Greenfield AE7HD

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Bob Butcher <bbutcher85@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the reply. As I suspected vinyl works as a etchant mask. Does anyone have recommendations on an inexpensive vinyl cutter? It seems that most of the Cricut machines use cartridges, which would be of no use for PCB work. Any system that would behave as a printer should work fine as long as it is capable of taking an image (jpeg, png, bitmap, plt, etc) and scaling it accurately. The machines that say "No computer required" look like they would not be appropriate. Most of my PCBs are less than 8 inches in size, but I would not object to buying a larger cutter if the cost was not prohibitive. I have seen some used or refurbished Roland vinyl cutters on ebay, any comments on these?
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> Bob
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