John
I still don't understand why you don't use the chemical etching method?
I have been making PCB for years that way.
Here are two reasons I use a chemical method.
Price is cheap approximately $5.00 per board
Time it takes 25mins start to finish per board including printing,
applying to board, etching, cleaning, solder coating, drilling.
If you want to see what it is like send me your trace drawing.
I will make a single sided board for you for up to 5"x 5" for $5.00.
That is including everything above except for drilling your final holes.
I do batches of boards almost every week.
My email is
Hightechsystems@...Derek
Hi Gang,
My goal is to come up with a way to make
circuit boards fast and cheap! There are PCB
houses out there that supply a program and fast
turnaround. For under $30 you can have a board
in your hands in several days. So I reasoned that
$30 was the price to beat!
While I was making and designing simple
CNC machines for people to learn on, someone
asked me if my machine could mill circuit boards.
My first attempt was using a Dremel steel ball mill. It
became dull after 12" of copper. I then used a No.50
carbide drill bit. Using just the tip of the drill
I was able to mill a circuit board for a power
supply. One of my customers told me about Think and
Tinker's Mechanical Etching bits. I bought ten bits
and the fun began.
That was a year and a half ago. Since that time
I have made and sold over 200 PCBs. I use a Dremel
MultiPro and Think and Tinker 60 degree bits. I
sell my boards for $30 each. I would like to see that
price come down! I will try ball mills again. This
time they will be carbide. If I can get carbide ball
mills in the $5 range, this will reduce my costs.
At the moment I am working on a machine that can
be built for under $100 in just a few days. I am shooting
for a machine made with 90 percent hardware store parts.
Less is more! The machine will mill circuit boards-draw
circuit boards or cut vinyl letters. It is built and designed
like a plotter. Instead of a belt or piano wire I am using
that cheap 1/4-20 rod people say is no good!
I repaired and retro-ed a Bridgeport Boss.
That's how I got into this hobby. I know all about large
over powered machines. Very little power is needed to mill
circuit boards. Even with a sloppy machine a usable board
emerges. Think FUN! Think CHEAP! It's only a hobby!
John
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