Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

I know I'm interested.

Steve

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ballendo" <ballendo@y...> wrote:
> Ron,
>
> I tend to agree about the overall value of PCB milling. It's still
> worth it for some projects, but for many it just doesn't make sense
> when the board houses have improved their prototype pricing and
> delivery. BUT...
>
> A CNC machine in your pcb lab is FAR more than just a pcb miller...
>
> At the barest minimum it's a pcb DRILL. And a front panel engraver.
> Panel cutouts for switches and displays, etc. is a no-brainer. To me
> the biggest mistake the folks at LPKF and T-tech make is that their
> machine is for drilling/tracemilling ONLY...
>
> I have a 15x15 machine for $5K, which is the equal of the LPKF and T-
> tech machines. (But can do much more than just pcb stuff, and it's
> not a kit.)
>
> The kit machines I was really asking about are lower priced...
>
> My thousand buck kit CNC machine (12x12x4") is useful in many ways,
> ONE of which is pcb trace milling(which IS useful for small simple
> boards.) It can also do PCB drilling, and has a resolution
> of .000125, so detail is no problem. You can work on things as thich
> as 3-1/2 inches, and up to 18 inches wide. The machine itself has a
> 20 x 24" footprint.
>
> I'm pretty sure I can offer a 500 buck pcb drill with capability for
> board size of 6x8, maybe 8x12 inches. It can do some other CNC type
> things, like panel cutout and engraving, but it's really aimed at
> just being a low-cost CNC drill option... Spindle is set up for 1/8
> or 3mm shanks.
>
> The main thing is that these kits would be COMPLETE. And go together
> in an hour or two. No searching for components, power supplies,
> software, soldering or anything else. Just a screwdriver, hexwrench,
> and your hands.
>
> But it doesn't seem as popular as I'd thought, based on responses
> here so far...
>
> Now that I've let my target pricing out of the bag, perhaps there
> might be interest?
>
> Balllendo
>
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Amundson"
> <ron_amundson@h...> wrote:
> > I used to have an entry level LPKF, the machine cost US$11,500 and
> with all
> > the tooling and options it came in at US$19,200.<snip>