Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Schmalz" <brian.s@...> wrote:
>
> Dave,
> 	I'd write to you off list, but I can't find an address for you.

dave_mucha   at   yahoo dot com

you have to put it together.  I think that if I put it in a post, it
strips it off.


 I'm very interested in a low-price CNC kit, even with a very small
work envelope and for very light duty. The important thing is to have
good directions and include everything (or at least the hard to get
stuff) in the kit. I think that many of the people on this list would
have the ability to do much of the fabrication and assembly of the kit
themselves, so it would probably be simpler and cheaper for you to
offer as many 'raw' materials as possible and let the user do the
building themselves as much as possible. (i.e. cutting stock to
length, soldering circuit boards, crimping wires, drilling holes, etc.)
> 
> 	Probably like many people on this list, I'd love to have a small
CNC machine to 'play with'. I don't have the money to drop $2k for a
ready-built machine, but I do have more money than time. So spending
$900 for a kit where I can just walk through the instructions is much
better for me than spending $500 on materials and having to take the
time to design everything out myself, if that makes any sense.
> 
> *Brian


I think you are exactly correct.

We looked at what is missing in the market.

I make a $5,000 Plasma cutter frame that is semi-custom and is for
small metal shops.  

I looked at a heavier metal frame unit, but could not see how to get
under about $1,500 and then it was a lot of work.

My partner figured out how to make a solid machine and I do the
electronics.

the first couple will be completely assembeled, or 80% with some
things to bolt on once you get it.  knocked down for shipping a little
bit.

It will include three steppers, drivers, power supply, end and e-stop
switches, and the demo copies of both Turbo-CNC and Mach.  

Turbo CNC is a $60.00 program that runs in DOS on a Pentium 200 or better.

Mach is a Win-XP program that needs 1mhz or better 

Also, a demo of WinQCAD.  this schematic capture program does
schematic, manual parts layout and then auto-routing AND it also does
the trace isolation for making g-code that will run in Turbo-CNC or Mach.

Mach and WinQCAD are both $150.00 programs.  and there is a post
processor, SheetCAM that would help to speed up file cutting paths but
would be a little overkill in the one board a day or two of a home shop.

Dave




>