Homebrew_PCBs

Hello,

The kits sent to countries with 240V,50Hz mains would be set up for
that voltage and frequency.

It's only a transformer change, after all...

Ballendo

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Maxwell" <wrmaxwell@b...>
wrote:

> Hi Ballendo
> I'm interested too but is the power supply an area in which a

slightly

> lesser kit might be considered. Australian AC mains supply is 240

VAC. 50 Hz

> so a kit designed for 110 volts, 60 Hz would have some redundant

pieces

> here, probably also in the UK?
> Bill
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ballendo" <ballendo@y...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 8:12 PM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: 500 buck CNC drill update
>
>
> > Brian,
> >
> > The kit will be complete, including structure, motors, drives,

wiring

> > and software. (The only item in "debate" is whether I'll include a
> > drilling spindle or not.) IMO, The tech support issues from

offering

> > incomplete kits are not worth the hassle and time for a product so
> > low-priced.
> >
> > There is NO difference between the 800 and 500 buck machines

because

> > they are the same machine! (At this point, anyway. Explanation
> > follows.) Here's the issue...
> >
> > Even the least expensive cnc drill needs certain things. There is
> > a "base" cost for these things which cannot be made less. In this
> > case, to be called a CNC PCB drill, you need AT LEAST:
> >
> > 2 motors for XY drive,
> > 2 screws,belts, or other means of moving the axes
> > 2 drivers for the motors
> > 1 solenoid for actuating the drilling, and a driver for the

solenoid.

> > rails and bearings for the xy and z axes
> > Support for the pcb
> > a spindle, or the attachment point for an easily available

spindle.

> > The machine structure to put this all together, including

hardware,

> > etc.
> > A power supply
> > Wiring and connectors
> > Software
> > Shipping packaging
> > A means for customer support and answers to customer questions
> >
> > Without ALL these things, you don't have a viable CNC drill.
> >
> > So you play with each category trying to get the best overall

value,

> > within the 500 buck limit that you guys have set...
> >
> > And you find that if the machine is made just a bit

bigger,stronger,

> > faster, then a LOT more can be done than JUST pdb drilling. But

as I

> > wrote in a post a few days ago, you ALSO find that this "just a

bit"

> > costs MORE than "just a bit" more...
> >
> > Start with this: A 5"x8"x1/2", moving table, XY stepper ,solenoid

Z,

> > pcb DRILL only--(which means the guide rods/rails can be VERY

light,

> > just look at what the Roland machines use!) In other words, the
> > barest minimum that could properly be called a CNC PCB drilling
> > machine. (This is what I had in mind originally for a 500buck cnc
> > drill.)
> >
> > Then, luckily for you guys, feature creep kicked in<G>
> >
> > Anyway, going from that to an 8"x10"x2", 3 stepper, full 3d

capable,

> > STURDY 3/4" rails, acme drive, AB nuts(because a pcb drill(only)
> > doesn't need AB if the software always approaches the drilling

point

> > from the same direction), A stiffer structure to accomodate the

much

> > thicker items likely to be placed on the table to be cut(like
> > electronics enclosures, for cutouts/engraving), which requires an
> > increased throat that changes the moment loads and calcs
> > (geometrically)--not necessary if 1/16 pcb material is all you

need

> > to accomodate, AND all the other related things that make the

result

> > much MORE than a CNC pcb drill...
> >
> > In this case it all means a difference in selling price of about

300

> > bucks. As I wrote, each "little" upgrade or improvement causes a
> > chain reaction to other parts of the design. But for me it's hard

to

> > use 1/2" rods, when 3/4" will cost the same in volume... And to

sell

> > a moving table, when I KNOW a fixed table is better for a wider
> > variety of things...
> >
> > Now what I have to decide, is whether I think I can make any

profits

> > selling an 800 buck machine for 500. And whether simply providing

the

> > 500 buck CNC PCB drill ONLY, is a better choice, business wise.
> >
> > Or whether the increased usefullness is worth the 300 bucks to my
> > potential customers?
> >
> > My current belief is that the bigger, better machine will be more
> > useful to more people. So I mentioned that what I'm thinking I

will

> > do is to initially offer an 800 buck machine for 500. But to

pretty

> > quickly increase the price to 800, and bring a new machine that is
> > pcb drill only to market for 500 bucks.
> >
> > I have no interest in providing a "partial" solution. So whether

500,

> > or 800, or 1000, or 5000; my machines are complete. Just with
> > differing capabilities of size speed, and "duty cycle".
> >
> > Side note: I used to work for a copier company as a Service Tech.

We

> > had a machine that was rated 5000 copies per month. Of course this
> > was based on a 20 day work month, so it was REALLY rated for 250
> > copies per day. I had a heck of a time getting this point across

to

> > my customer who had monthly breakdowns due to running 2-5K month

end

> > reports... "But they said it was good for 5000 copies per month!"
> > (that's what duty cycle means.)
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> >
> > Ballendo
> >
> > P.S. About the only "time consuming" step I "could" pass on is the
> > pcb assy. and wiring. Since this group obviously can do that,

perhaps

> > that's something I'll consider...
> > But I have to stress that my experience with low-priced products
> > shows that customer support can kill profitability quicker than
> > almost anything else... So it all has to balance. Because I'm not
> > doing this for grins<G>
> >
> >
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Brian Schmalz <brian.s@l...>
> > wrote:
> > > Ballendo,
> > > I'm totally interested in the $500 machine. For me, $800 is
> > less
> > > interesting. What differences would there be between the two
> > machines?
> > >
> > > What software would you need to run it? I'm assuming the $500
> > includes no
> > > electronics, correct? I really like the idea of giving it the
> > flexibility
> > > that the user can modify it to do other (simple) things like

pnp,

> > routing,
> > > front panel milling, etc.
> > >
> > > Are there time consuming steps in the assembly that you can let

the

> > > user do (more of a kit) to save cost? I'm happy to spend 40

hours

> > > putting together a kit if it will cut $100 from the cost. (Just
> > > cause it's fun to put together kits!)
> > >
> > > *Brian
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and

files:

> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
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> >
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