Homebrew PCBs

Mark,
  I would love to play with that toy I'm putting my dibs on it. I am in CA, san jose
Please PM me 
Thanks
Kim
Kim
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Lerman <mlerman@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:55 
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Using a home made CNC router for pcb
  milling?

I realize that this is not a commercial group, so I hope the 
following is not a violation of policy. I have an old T-Tech Quick 
Circuit that I will never use again, including the isolation software 
and dongle. I used it to get my feet wet in cnc milling, but wasn't 
really happy with it. If anyone wants it I would be willing to let it 
go to someone on this group for a very reasonable price, especially 
if you could pick it up. It works just fine, I have manuals and 
controller. I paid (foolishly) about $2500 USD for it, then 
compounded the problem by paying another $1,000 USD for the isolation software.

In the spirit of helping someone ON THIS GROUP, who will NOT RESELL 
it, I will give it to the first person who carts it away for $500. 
Anyone interested?

Mark




At 12:30 PM 3/18/2010, you wrote:
>That depends on how much junk you have around and how valuable your time
>time is.  I built mine from an XY table my old boss gave me, a drawer
>slide with a Dremel attached with hose clamps, some surplus stepper
>motors and samples of Allegro driver chips.  I think the only cash
>outlay I made was an $8 laptop so I wouldn't have to use my good one.
>Of course, if I wanted to mill traces, the Z axis would have to be
>perpendicular to X and Y, which it is not.  And more software would need
>to be written.  But for now, it drills my holes and cuts out the board.
>Then I use toner transfer.
>
>Kerry
>
>sailingto wrote:
> > Thank you for the response Mark - what you are saying is one of 
> the reasons I've been hesitate to invest much money/time in a 
> homebrew CNC mill - concern it would not hold the tolerances 
> required for good PCB milling.  Even a home built CNC can cost 
> several hundred bucks!
> >
> > Maybe when I win the BIG lottery I'll buy the $9K CNC :)  (Folks 
> keep telling me I must buy a ticket before I can possibly win:(
> >
> > Ken H.
> >
> >
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Mark Lerman <mlerman@...> wrote:
> >
> >> I've been milling boards for over a year. It works very well, though
> >> the learning curve is a little steeper than you might think. I use an
> >> AccurateCNC 360, which is good enough for 10 mil traces and can be
> >> used for even finer traces with some care. Double sided is easy,
> >> drilling is a snap, and being able to mill the edges of the board
> >> gives a very clean cut. I'm not sure whether a simple homemade mill
> >> would work as well, but over a smaller area it should work. The 360
> >> is about 9K (I think), very pricey for the hobbiest, but it can also
> >> be used for milling plastic and even non ferrous metals.  Support for
> >> this machine is unbelievably great!! The company goes way out of it's
> >> way to provide support and repairs, even out of  warrantee, and they
> >> reply to email extremely promptly. I blew the spindle driver while
> >> cutting plastic, and they replaced the driver with a newer one that
> >> won't blow at no charge. While they had the machine, they completely
> >> checked the calibration and added some hardware to make cutting
> >> plastic and softer materials much easier. Again at no charge.
> >>
> >> The usual disclaimer - I have no financial interest whatsoever in
> >> their company, just a very satisfied customer.
> >>
> >> Mark
> >>
> >>
> >> At 08:49 PM 3/17/2010, you wrote:
> >>
> >>> Well Mat - I was hoping someone would respond and get a discussion
> >>> going on CNC milling of PCB.  I have been reading about it and it
> >>> sure sounds slick - the videos look good.
> >>>
> >>> Double sided should be a snap.  Drill holes are automated.
> >>>
> >>> It all "sounds" good, but like you I'd like to know more.
> >>>
> >>> Ken H.
> >>>
> >>> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mat_henshall" <mat@> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> I am considering getting a small DIY 3 axis CNC router, something
> >>>>
> >>> like this:
> >>>
> >>>> http://zentoolworks.com/
> >>>>
> >>>> To, amongst other things, make PCB's with. Clearly a useful tool
> >>>>
> >>> for drilling holes, but I have seen youtube videos (eg
> >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFQotB1aQBQ) of people using this
> >>> type of device for milling the pcb itself.
> >>>
> >>>> I currently use UV Sensitive PCB method for making prototype
> >>>>
> >>> boards which is OK, but is time consuming, can be error prone and messy.
> >>>
> >>>> Anybody got any thoughts on milling PCB's? Good, bad the ugly?
> >>>>
> >>>> One though that occurred to me is that after making it, spraying
> >>>>
> >>> some form of solder resist to the board and then using some sort of
> >>> polishing bit to remove the resist where needed might be a nice touch?
> >>>
> >>>> Mat
> >>>>
>
>
>
>
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>
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