Homebrew PCBs

I can't answer specific questions about this unit, but let me do a mini
brain dump from my CNC experience (mill, lathe, much more on to-do list);

 

First, while you can perhaps throw something like this together cheap,
substituting elbow grease, accuracy is what you really need. My minimum
equipment list might look somewhat daunting, but its what I can't live
without.

 

Metal working machinery:

 

Milling machine (mini mill, sold by grizzly, harbor freight or homier in the
US)

7x12 lathe (again, grizzly, harbor freight and northern tools)

4x6 bandsaw (grizzly, harbor freight, clarke)

16" drill press (grizzly, harbor freight, northern tools, clarke, sears,
home depot, lowes)

 

Stepper motors:

 

Minimum ~250oz/in (best prices new from automation direct, used cheaper)

 

Electronics:

 

Some freedom here, as you can probably make boards yourself. Base them on
the Allegro 3977 micro-stepping driver/controller and you are doing great.
DIY or buy the 3 axis Xylotex board. Or go with the Gecko drivers.

 

Software:

 

I use Mach2 from artsoft, but turbocnc from DAK engineering is also popular.

 

Tooling:

 

Here is where things get expensive. A partial list -

 

Set of end mills

Set of lathe cutting tools

Clamping kit

1-2-3 blocks

Kurtz style vice, 3in

Decent selection of drill bits

Center drills

Wiggler set

Parallel set

Dial indicator(s)

Digital calipers (hey, they are so cheap now, why not?)

QCTP (quick change tool post) set for lathe

Transfer punch set

 

Miscellaneous stuff:

 

Machinery's Handbook

 

 

That's all I can think of immediately. If you see it as an investment in
future projects, it's a little easier to stomach. Plus, you have to learn
how to use all this stuff. CNC is not for the faint-of-heart.

 

  _____  

From: Adam Seychell [mailto:a_seychell@...] 
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 7:57 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: PCB drill viewing mechanism... reviewed

 

They look interesting, but what is used as the linear slides ? How are 
they attached to the U channel ?
Is the lead screw standard zinc steel threaded bar or is it  the true 
thing ?
It looks like X, Y and Z axis are identically built, with only the 
length of the Z axis being smaller.
What CNC software are you using ? Did that take a week to write too ?
And most important, what is the minimum tooling required to build one of 
these ?





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