Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Roy J. Tellason" 
<rtellason@b...> wrote:
<snip> 
>I haven't yet begun to explore the possibilities of various holddown 
>method. I can think of a few right off the top of my head,  those 
>being simple clamps,  some kind of a T-slot table (more clamps),  or 
>maybe a vacuum holddown setup.  What else is there?

Masking tape. By far the most common, and the most reliable, IMO. The 
registration is done with 1/8 or 3mm pins. You use the cnc to drill 
for them in the pcb AND the holes they fit into in the machine table 
(or a spoil board (recommended)). Just like a "real" board house 
tooling holes...

>Roy wrote of SMD's:
>That's someplace else I have no intention of going.  That stuff 
>does provide some benefit,  to be sure,  in terms of component 
>density and especially for manufacturing in large quantities,  but 
>again,  I don't see me getting into any of that sort of thing.

Common through hole parts are being discontinued with amazing 
regularity. Plan now your shift towards SMT and D or regret it 
later...

Hope this helps, 

Ballendo