Homebrew PCBs

--- ralucas4277 <ralucas4277@...> wrote:

> Hi Curt,
> 
> After your previously posted details of your system,
> I carried out some 
> more tests on pcb spark erosion. What became
> immediately clear was the 
> requirement for an accurate wire feed for the
> electrode.
> 
> I put together a mall stepper driven wire roller
> feed mechanism, using 
> a gearbox and a butchered capstan mechanism from an
> old tape recorder, 
> with fixed orifices above and below the vertical
> roller wire drive, 
> thus giving the step in/out for the spark
> initiation. This worked using 
> 10 mil wire, (smaller dia wires are more difficult
> to source easily in 
> small quantities in the UK, if anyone knows better,
> please let me 
> know), but the need for a more precision unit was
> needed, and other 
> things intervened. I bought a micro lathe intending
> to put together a 
> higher precision unit. A servo motor rather than a
> stepper may give a 
> speed increase.
> 

In the US small quantities of

1 mil stainless, 5 mil tungsten and 5 mil tantalum are
easily sourced at www.smallparts.com.  Search for "wire".


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