Homebrew PCBs

> To make somewhat serious boards in house you would at least need
THP, and  
> not so many do that. They rather pay for faster proto services (e.g. 8  
> hour).
> 
> Even plain THP boards are not really enough for a lot of stuff these
days,  
> you want soldermask, legend, multilayer at least. When you get into
flex  
> circuits and laser drilled microvias and stuff like that you'll need
to  
> make a lot of boards to make it work. You'd need to employ people
that do  
> just that, and what do you need to pay them while they are waiting
for the  
> design people to need the next board?
> 
> I'd say the cnc drill is one of the smaller investments if you are
going  
> to set up PCB fabrication and want capabilities that are at least
remotely  
> up to date. If you can make do with older technology it's another story.
> 
> ST


As you know, there are may methods of doing a thing.  Have ever made a
small board to hold componets for a circut because you don't trust any
other method ?

And, it is very simple to use a resistor as a thru-hole instead of
requiring a via.

Many circuits can be proven, tested and corrected in-house on single
sided boards.  Heck, most shops are going to SMD parts, so holes are
becomming less of a need.

And for all SMD work, all you need is a way to etch the board.  and
for that , you might be better off with TT or some other such chemical
method.  

So, for strictly SMD work, I would not recomend a drilling machine at all.

Dave





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