Homebrew PCBs

Hi Stefan

>i didn't buy the stand.
>the cheap ones they have seem not good quality to me.

Well - all I can say is that it serves me well. It's of course not
built to last 100 years, but as mentioned it does the job nicely and
sooner or later I will build my cnc drill anyways. As you know, I'm
doing PCB's with through plating - hence lot's of holes and drilling
them by hand is not my dream job :-))

>i only bought the ib/e grinder.
>and i really like the tool.
>it is superior to all other minidrill grinder tools i have.
>if the tool runs rock solid centered it is much better to grind, cut, etc.
>also the motor is very powerful and very silent.
>i have a unit which has also 100W but seems to turn that only into heat.

Yes, I'm very happy with the motor also. The motor for sure will also
be used in my (to be built) CNC drill if I end up building one (see
below)

>what i dislike at the ib/e:
>the button for spindle stopping (tool change)
>can be pressed while running, it is at a exposed position.
>this could be done better.

You are right, this could have been done better, but so far I never
managed to press it while I was dirlling and obviousely have no reason
to try :-)

>a cnc machine would be nice but i don't have the tools to make it (and 
>don't want to spend too much).

Me too, I also don't want to spend a fortune. I actually have two
options. I have a "TanBo" here which is a tangential drilling machine
manufactured by "Radix". Problem with this unit is that the software
that came along with it never worked right. John - the friend of mine
I mentioned in the past already - borrowed it to me cause he gave up
on it and meanwhile bought at "real" CNC drill. So, in case I manage
to fix the software problem I'm going to buy it off from him for 200
EUR. If not - I'm going to build one by myself.

>if i would have to build one i would use linear rails made with ball 
>bearings (use 3, one pring loaded with strong spring).
>and for moving i would use metric allthreads and stepper motors.
>for parallel moving of the "bridge" in one direction i would use two 
>allthreads, coupled by some toothed belt, chain or so to move
>simultaneously (or two motors - take care that both turn!).
>
>the problem for me would be making the software. i hate making this.
>
>also the mechanic things would be easier if i own a milling machine and a 
>lathe, but i don't.

Well, I'm in a somwhat happy position. I originally learned "tool
maker" (don't know how to propperly translate this into english, but I
learned how to craft those tools one use to make plastic parts, to
create and fold metal parts etc.). Then I moved into the software
business (I'm meanwhile writing software for over 20 years) and now I
started to play with microcontrollers and stuff - so all that's needed
is combined here :-)

>also i would have to find precise rails which offer three very straight 
>sides (like a pipe or so).
>i heard there are extruded aluminium sheaths which are precise enough for 
>this but i have no idea if this is true / where to get.
>
>but this is another story....

I know a supplier of those aluminium sheaths and there they are fairly
cheap. You are right about the linear rails in that those are best
bought. Btw, there is no need to write the software cause PC-CNC (if
memory serves that's the name of this software) can easily deal with
homebrew machines. I haven't delved too deap into this yet since - as
menitoned - I can try if I can activate the TanBo.

Markus