Homebrew PCBs

I know I'm interested.

Steve

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ballendo" <ballendo@y...> wrote:
> Ron,
> 
> I tend to agree about the overall value of PCB milling. It's still 
> worth it for some projects, but for many it just doesn't make sense 
> when the board houses have improved their prototype pricing and 
> delivery. BUT...
> 
> A CNC machine in your pcb lab is FAR more than just a pcb miller...
> 
> At the barest minimum it's a pcb DRILL. And a front panel engraver. 
> Panel cutouts for switches and displays, etc. is a no-brainer. To me 
> the biggest mistake the folks at LPKF and T-tech make is that their 
> machine is for drilling/tracemilling ONLY...
> 
> I have a 15x15 machine for $5K, which is the equal of the LPKF and T-
> tech machines. (But can do much more than just pcb stuff, and it's 
> not a kit.) 
> 
> The kit machines I was really asking about are lower priced...
> 
> My thousand buck kit CNC machine (12x12x4") is useful in many ways, 
> ONE of which is pcb trace milling(which IS useful for small simple 
> boards.) It can also do PCB drilling, and has a resolution 
> of .000125, so detail is no problem. You can work on things as thich 
> as 3-1/2 inches, and up to 18 inches wide. The machine itself has a 
> 20 x 24" footprint.
> 
> I'm pretty sure I can offer a 500 buck pcb drill with capability for 
> board size of 6x8, maybe 8x12 inches. It can do some other CNC type 
> things, like panel cutout and engraving, but it's really aimed at 
> just being a low-cost CNC drill option... Spindle is set up for 1/8 
> or 3mm shanks.  
> 
> The main thing is that these kits would be COMPLETE. And go together 
> in an hour or two. No searching for components, power supplies, 
> software, soldering or anything else. Just a screwdriver, hexwrench, 
> and your hands. 
> 
> But it doesn't seem as popular as I'd thought, based on responses 
> here so far... 
> 
> Now that I've let my target pricing out of the bag, perhaps there 
> might be interest?
> 
> Balllendo
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Amundson" 
> <ron_amundson@h...> wrote:
> > I used to have an entry level LPKF, the machine cost US$11,500 and 
> with all
> > the tooling and options it came in at US$19,200.<snip>