Homebrew PCBs

No, your question would not be considered off topic on the
CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO group. It directly deals with the design and building of
a hobby CNC machine.

No direct experience with anti-backlash acme screws or a machine based
on linear bearings and rods, but I have done some PCB drilling on my
Shoptask and on my Bridgeport. My resolution was on the Shoptask at the
time was .00025" and that worked out just fine. I would actually venture
a guess that you could get by with resolution in the .0005" - .001"
range. For the spindle I am a big fan of using a collet style Foredom
flexshaft hand piece. This lets you mount the motor remotely so you have
a small light spindle on the machine and gives you a spindle speed of
15,000 - 20,000 RPM depending upon the motor and handpiece you use. It
worked well for me when I used one in my Shoptask. I am now using a
Precise 40,000 RPM spindle in the Bridgeport and that works even better,
but can be a little spendy.

Tim
[Denver, CO]
Back-up CAD_CAM list mom


> -----Original Message-----
> From: n4onl [mailto:umrk@...] 
> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 8:21 PM
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: PCB Mill/Drill Project
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Russell Shaw <rjshaw@i...> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > n4onl wrote:
> > > 
> > > Hi everyone.
> > >  Just found this group and I have been skimming through 
> the posts. 
> > > I'm interested in building a CNC PCB mill/drill. Stepper motors, 
> > > linear bearings/rods, antibacklash nuts on Acme rod... 
> and a Black 
> > > and Decker RTX. The resolution works out to 0.0005" per full step
> and
> > > 0.00025" if I half step.
> > > 
> > > Is 1/2 or 1/4 of a thousands a good resolution for this project?
> > > 
> > > Does anyone have links to similar projects?
> > > 
> > > Hints? Tips? Insight?
> > 
> > There's a home-brew cnc yahoo group: cad_cam_edm_dro.
> 
> I found this group from a post in CCED. I hoped I'd get info here 
> since Bill (list mom) might consider this Off Topic in that group.
> 
> Thanks
> mike
> 
> 
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