Homebrew PCBs

>
> Okay, as you all know I am far from experienced with PCB making.  I 
> have gone through a variety of trials with the toner transfer method 
> and can appreciate it.  I can somewhat see it's limitations with 
> regard to how small of a trace I could do using this process.  
> However, if I ever need more detail, I could do the photoresist 
> process.  The chemicals work good and efficient, all around, etching 
> works very good.
> 
> Now about 6 months ago, I was wanting to do isolation milling as I 
> believed it to be better.  However, I am pretty much now in the 
> belief trying isolation milling will not show any advantages over 
> what I am doing now.  I seriously doubt it would be faster than 
> chemical etching.  I don't think the tool bits would last very long, 
> so I would guess that the tooling costs would negate the costs of 
> the chemicals. Even though you would be cutting with a very small 
> diameter pointed tool, I don't think you could get better results 
> (finer pitches and traces) using a milling process.
> 
> Is there something that I am not seeing in that process that would 
> give it advantages over chemical etching?
> 
> Thanks guys
> 
> Chris
>

> Okay, as you all know I am far from experienced with PCB making.  I
>
> have gone through a variety of trials with the toner transfer method
>
> and can appreciate it.  I can somewhat see it's limitations with
>
> regard to how small of a trace I could do using this process.
>
> However, if I ever need more detail, I could do the photoresist
>
> process.  The chemicals work good and efficient, all around, etching
>
> works very good.
>
>
> Now about 6 months ago, I was wanting to do isolation milling as I
>
> believed it to be better.  However, I am pretty much now in the
>
> belief trying isolation milling will not show any advantages over
>
> what I am doing now.  I seriously doubt it would be faster than
>
> chemical etching.  I don't think the tool bits would last very long,
>
> so I would guess that the tooling costs would negate the costs of
>
> the chemicals. Even though you would be cutting with a very small
>
> diameter pointed tool, I don't think you could get better results
>
> (finer pitches and traces) using a milling process.
>
>
> Is there something that I am not seeing in that process that would
>
> give it advantages over chemical etching?
>
>
> Thanks guys
>
>
> Chris

> >
> > give it advantages over chemical etching?
> >
> >
> > Thanks guys
> >
> >
> > Chris
>

> I just thought of something else regarding efficiency. Even though I
>
> don't make a lot of circuit boards, I have been etching two, and
>
> even, three boards at the same time.  This is very efficient and is
>
> only limitted by the size of the etching tank.
>
>
> Having been in shops of one type or another my entire adult life, I
>
> probably have been exposed to more toxins than I care to think
>
> about. So, fear of: acids, projectiles, and dust isn't an issue for
>
> me - been there done that sort of thing I guess.  Frankly, I am much
>
> more fearful of the dumb girl in the car in front of me talking on
>
> the cell phone and not paying attention to driving ;-(
>
>
> A while ago I did read that article you mentioned, and you are
>
> right, they were not very positive at all about milling.
>
>
> Hmmm, makes me think of another possiblity though - laser etching?
>
> I know there are lasers that can focus their "cutting depth" which
>
> might allow for cutting through the copper and not the substrate.  I
>
> would have to guess that this sort of laser would require a bit of
>
> power though.
>
>
> Chris
>

>
> I just thought of something else regarding efficiency. Even though I 
> don't make a lot of circuit boards, I have been etching two, and 
> even, three boards at the same time.  This is very efficient and is 
> only limitted by the size of the etching tank.  
> 
> Having been in shops of one type or another my entire adult life, I 
> probably have been exposed to more toxins than I care to think 
> about. So, fear of: acids, projectiles, and dust isn't an issue for 
> me - been there done that sort of thing I guess.  Frankly, I am much 
> more fearful of the dumb girl in the car in front of me talking on 
> the cell phone and not paying attention to driving ;-(
> 
> A while ago I did read that article you mentioned, and you are 
> right, they were not very positive at all about milling.  
> 
> Hmmm, makes me think of another possiblity though - laser etching?  
> I know there are lasers that can focus their "cutting depth" which 
> might allow for cutting through the copper and not the substrate.  I 
> would have to guess that this sort of laser would require a bit of 
> power though.  
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
> <stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> >
> > Mechanically milling PCBs is inferior. full stop.
> > 
> > It's done by people who have a unreasonable aversion to acids (and 
> no fear  
> > of high-speed debris projectiles or glassfiber dust strangely).
> > There's no real advantage.
> > You can read the paper on milling vs. etching by bungard (who 
> sell  
> > machines for both) and you'll see not even they like milling.
> > 
> > ST
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 23:23:28 +0100, lcdpublishing  
> > <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> > 
> > > Okay, as you all know I am far from experienced with PCB 
> making.  I
> > >
> > > have gone through a variety of trials with the toner transfer 
> method
> > >
> > > and can appreciate it.  I can somewhat see it's limitations with
> > >
> > > regard to how small of a trace I could do using this process.
> > >
> > > However, if I ever need more detail, I could do the photoresist
> > >
> > > process.  The chemicals work good and efficient, all around, 
> etching
> > >
> > > works very good.
> > >
> > >
> > > Now about 6 months ago, I was wanting to do isolation milling as 
> I
> > >
> > > believed it to be better.  However, I am pretty much now in the
> > >
> > > belief trying isolation milling will not show any advantages over
> > >
> > > what I am doing now.  I seriously doubt it would be faster than
> > >
> > > chemical etching.  I don't think the tool bits would last very 
> long,
> > >
> > > so I would guess that the tooling costs would negate the costs of
> > >
> > > the chemicals. Even though you would be cutting with a very small
> > >
> > > diameter pointed tool, I don't think you could get better results
> > >
> > > (finer pitches and traces) using a milling process.
> > >
> > >
> > > Is there something that I am not seeing in that process that 
> would
> > >
> > > give it advantages over chemical etching?
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks guys
> > >
> > >
> > > Chris
> >
>

> thanks)
> 
> ST
> 
> 
> On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 00:05:22 +0100, lcdpublishing  
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> 
> > I just thought of something else regarding efficiency. Even though I
> >
> > don't make a lot of circuit boards, I have been etching two, and
> >
> > even, three boards at the same time.  This is very efficient and is
> >
> > only limitted by the size of the etching tank.
> >
> >
> > Having been in shops of one type or another my entire adult life, I
> >
> > probably have been exposed to more toxins than I care to think
> >
> > about. So, fear of: acids, projectiles, and dust isn't an issue for
> >
> > me - been there done that sort of thing I guess.  Frankly, I am much
> >
> > more fearful of the dumb girl in the car in front of me talking on
> >
> > the cell phone and not paying attention to driving ;-(
> >
> >
> > A while ago I did read that article you mentioned, and you are
> >
> > right, they were not very positive at all about milling.
> >
> >
> > Hmmm, makes me think of another possiblity though - laser etching?
> >
> > I know there are lasers that can focus their "cutting depth" which
> >
> > might allow for cutting through the copper and not the substrate.  I
> >
> > would have to guess that this sort of laser would require a bit of
> >
> > power though.
> >
> >
> > Chris
> >
>

From: "lcdpublishing" <lcdpublishing@...>
> Hmmm, makes me think of another possiblity though - laser etching?  
> I know there are lasers that can focus their "cutting depth" which 
> might allow for cutting through the copper and not the substrate.  I 
> would have to guess that this sort of laser would require a bit of 
> power though.  

EDM, perhaps, but still suffers from imperfect flatness on the substrate.

> plastic signage etc.  (That's only the spindle prices not the 
> mount/motor, more for name brands too..)
>