Homebrew PCBs

From: "Richard" <Richard@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 12:51 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Advice on choosing the correct drill / stand for 
PCB drilling ?


Hello everyone

Having always used a hand electric drill in the past, together
with standard HSS drill bits, (wear out too quick),  I want to upgrade.

I'd like to purchase a drill with stand, so Tungsten-Carbide bits can
be used and generally make a much better job of drilling holes :)

Drill Stands : I've looked at the Dremel 220 'workstation' / Proxxon &
Wolfcraft stands, all at about \ufffd35...

As for mini drills, there are lots to choose from, but what is the best
combination at a reasonable price (\ufffd50ish) in users's experience ?

Proxxon is supposed to make the best drills, they have less runout (better 
bearings) than Dremel and Minicraft. I use a Minicraft drill and stand which 
works OK, but can break tungsten carbide drills if I'm not careful.

Leon 

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From: "Stefan Trethan" <stefan_trethan@...>
>> Having always used a hand electric drill in the past, together
...
>
> I use a proxxon IBE grinder. The bearings are good, but close together so
> not so good for side-loads (none when drilling).

I think I just found a use for the RotoZip. It's not quite a dremel, and not 
quite a laminate trimmer. I didn't know what to use it for, but I bought one 
anyway based on the TV ads some years back. Simply prophetic in hindsight. 
:)

I also have a small linear guide and a cute-as-a-button ballscrew that were 
too small for every other job that might have used one. They too, I think, 
just found a purpose. The ballscrew and stepper might be a bit over the top, 
though.

From: "Stefan Trethan" <stefan_trethan@...>
> Is this a rotary saw? Nobody buys them here because they seriously messed
> up the TV ad (they tried to demonstrate it but every bit they put in broke
> when touching the work, on several machines.).

That's the one. :) I bought one, cut a hole in the wall for the novelty of 
it, and then promptly tossed it under the workbench. It looks usable as a 
spindle for a micro-mini-mill-drill. 30k RPM, pretty solid 1/8" collet, huge 
cooling fan. The housing is FRP, pretty flexible, so a really rigid mount 
will be wasted. A split clamp around the throat and a single 4mm screw in 
the handle mount lug, 5" distant, should suffice for light drilling. (A few 
small steppers and a Taiwanese XY table will make a usable CNC drill. I'll 
see about a Kavo and ER-16 collet after/if this toy burns out.)

BTW, I use their down-cut spiral bits in the laminate trimmer and router for 
rough cutting MDF and plywood. They're cheap and last long enough that I 
forget how much I paid for the last 10 pack. Ironic, isn't it? It saves the 
good carbide for real work.