Homebrew PCBs

On Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:13:55 -0000, you wrote:

>I am going to get started on a new project that requires very small 
>PCB's.  As the subject states - what's the best method of cutting PCB's 
>to the size listed here - (3" x .1").  These will be used in a non-
>electronic project.

Those are quite small.
>
>I will be using single sided PCB's at .062" thick.
>
>I am thinking of using one of those large office paper cutters (the 
>ones that look like they have a 3 foot lawn mower blade as a cutter!) 
>as the board will be less than 2mm thick.
>

My experience is that the cut can wander, which does not help you a
bit.

>I understand that PCB's can dull blades quickly, but this cutter is one 
>that has been deemed obsolete.
>
>Any thoughts?  I read the posts about using scroll saws, routers, etc.  
>I was thinking that as my boards would be very thin, my method would 
>work.  The only catch would be that I would need very straight cuts, no 
>wandering edges.

I have a mill and various pieces of machining equipment, along with a
metal shear that I've adjusted for PC board material.

The shear does best, but the material tends to shift while cutting,
which ends up with a curved edge.

I have had some success with notching a PC board with a carbide
rasp/router bit (made for PCBOARD use) in a vertical mill.  Not sure
what you might to otherwise.

If you have the capability or desire, consider some of the extremely
small carbide bladed table saws (talking a blade 2 to 3 inches in
diameter) and that might do the trick.  

A pc board shear will work, but the work needs *not* to shift during
cutting.

Harvey

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