Homebrew PCBs

I'm glad to have started a few comments..
I think I ought to clarify a few points...

I'm not the first to build this type of pivot drill press, but I 
reckon I probably built is faster than most.

The 1 hour pivot press as I showed in the picture is, (apart from 
CNC) the best all round way I have found for drilling pcbs..  as 
Stefan said, the limited vertical movement required means that the 
pivot type is ideal.  I have previously tried all manner of devices 
based on off the shelf machines, but none of them can compare to the 
speed and accuracy of this concoction.

I will add some more pictures. in a few minutes.

No accuracy is required in construction, I didn't measure anything

The only parts I bought were the plastic pipe clips for the tool 
mount.

I really did start from scratch and build this in less than 1 hour, 
no plans, no sketches, just a jigsaw (I'm lazy) and a few bits and 
bobs

I threw it together, not knowing if it would be successfiul because 
my wife wanted to drill some boards and i couldn't afford the 
wastage from an unskilled driller  :-)  (I'll probably suffer for 
that)

The repeatability of the tool is excellent, and, what is even more 
important is that the flexibility of the components means that the 
drill bit will find the centre of the etched pad...  in other words, 
if you are off by less than 0.5 mm , the bit will centre itself into 
the hole!

I have a few minor wrist and shoulder problems, and I can drill 3 or 
4 times as many holes with this as I can do on a conventional press 
and 10 times as many as I can do by hand. This is due to the foot 
operation (heel actually)

If it wasn't so cheap to put together I would think about producing 
them for sale!  They are so simple to make, anyone could do it.

The secret is in the fine tuning...  on the main picture, the black 
cable that connects to the foot pedal also controls the travel...  
underneath is part of a cable terminal block which allows 
adjustment. Move the drill bit down to 1mm above the board, slide 
the terminal block up and lock in position.

If you are not CNCing boards, and you haven't tried one of these...  
it is well worth it...  what have you got to lose!

Of course you can always build it better, but this is a case of just 
good enough is plenty good enough!

cheers

Chris  (-=Spiyda=-)

 --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Horne" <chris@s...> 
wrote:
>
> Several people have mentioned drill presses lately...
> 
> Just thought I would share one of mine..
> 
> I use a hand mini drill and judge theholes by eye, using 0.85 mm 
> carbide bits at about 10,000 rpm.  I think I tend to breal about 1 
> bit in every 5,000 holes.
> 
> However, I have a CNC micro mill that I can use for drilling,  
scan 
> the actual circuit board and software does the rest..  that uses 
the 
> same 0.85mm carbide bits at around 30,000 rpm
> 
> Finally my wife wanted to do some drilling but was unable to hold 
> the drill steady enough so I threw together this little press in 
> about an hour...  
> 
> Its in the photos section under Spiyda
> 
> http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/homebrew_pcbs/lst?.dir=/Spiyda
> 
> The main features of note are ...  it cost less than $3 (+ the 
drill)
> 
> It is foot operated and adjustable (the black cable is tied above 
> the top board and has a terminal block under the second board.. 
the 
> cable then continus to the floor, where it is tied 2" above the 
> floor to a 2" x 1")
> 
> There is an old valve spring between the boards to push the drill 
> back up...
> 
> The hinge is a bit of old piano hinge but anything would do.
> 
> The boards are about third or fourth hand..  they have previously 
> been used a s a drawing board, a microwave support and a cutting 
> board.
> 
> The weird thing about this drill press is that it actually works 
> quite well.
> 
> It is more accurate than by hand and as it is foot operated, you 
> have two hands free for the board !
> 
> Chris
>